UNILAG MANAGEMENT & STUDENTS REACH CONSENSUS ON FEES

Authorities of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, on Thursday, September 14, 2023, had a meeting with the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Usman Umar Barambu accompanied by top officers of the Association and UNILAG Faculty leaders drawn from nine (9) faculties of the University and College of Medicine.

At the commencement of the meeting, NANS President highlighted the demands of UNILAG students as:

1. Reversal of Obligatory Fees

2. Reversal of Hostel Fees,

3. Reinstatement of Students’ Union Government in UNILAG.

Comrade Barambu observed that the absence of Students Union Government (SUG) in UNILAG had adversely affected communication between the students and management. He also noted that students would be able to channel their grievances appropriately through SUG.

Professor Ogunsola enumerated the dire situation of the University in view of prevailing economic realities, and the struggle to meet its obligations to students, staff, and municipal service providers, among others.

She stated the University’s commitment to the actualization of measures put in place to ameliorate the impact of the obligatory fees review. These measures include the Instalment Payment Option, Revitalisation of Work-Study Programme, Assistance to Indigent Students, Triple A Project, Pay for Mentors Project, Scholarship Opportunities among others.

The Vice-Chancellor also reiterated that “No UNILAG student would drop out of the institution due to fees”. She stressed that the aim of the University is to deliver quality education to its students regardless of class, tribe or creed.

After careful evaluation of the issues raised by the students and management, the following consensus was reached at the meeting:

1. Utility Charges for all categories of students was reduced to ₦15,000:00 from ₦20,000:00.

2. The obligatory fees for new undergraduate students was reviewed from ₦126,325:00 to ₦116,325:00 for Courses without Lab/Studio and ₦176,325:00 to ₦166,325:00 forCourses with Lab/Studio.

3. The obligatory fees for  returning undergraduate studentswas reviewed from ₦100,750:00 to ₦80,750:00 for Courses without Lab/Studio;  ₦140,250:00 to ₦120,250:00for Courses with Lab/Studio; and from ₦190,250:00 to ₦170, 250:00 for Medical / Pharmacy students and students in Health Professions.

4. The Convocation Fee to be paid by all final year studentswas reduced to ₦27,000:00 from ₦30,000:00.

5. Hostels fees were reviewed as follows:

I. For undergraduate hostels in Akoka and Yabacampuses, the fees was reduced to ₦43, 000:00from ₦90,000:00.

II. For hostels in Idi-Araba campus, the fees was reduced to ₦65,000:00 from ₦120,000:00.

III. The fees for Sodeinde Hall was reduced to ₦135,000:00 from ₦250,000:00

6. The Vice-Chancellor will commence the process of reinstating students’ union activities in the University.

The meeting which lasted over five (5) hours also had in attendance management staff of the university including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor Lucian Chukwu; Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Musa Obalola and Professor Adebisi Sunday, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC).

Signed
Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem
Head, Communication Unit
For: University of Lagos Management
Thursday, September 14, 2023