UNILAG reviews fees after NANS meeting

Tamarauemi Ebimini

Authorities at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), have announced a reduction in the institution’s fees. This followed Thursday’s meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, had met with student leaders led by the President of NANS, Usman Barambu to address the crisis over the hike in fees.

In July, the university increased tuition fees. Previously students of the institution paid N19, 000, but management fixed new fees at N190, 250 for students studying medicine, while for courses that require laboratory and studio, they are to pay N140, 250.

Programmes that do not require lab and studio were fixed at N100, 750.

Nevertheless, university in a statement on Friday morning by its spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibrahim, announced reduction of the obligatory fees for students, utility bills, convocation fees, hostel fees, among others.

It noted that utility charges for all students have been reduced to N15,000 from N20,000 and convocation fees to be paid by all final-year students were reduced to N27,000 from N30,000.

The obligatory fees for new undergraduate students were reviewed from N126,325 to N116,325 for courses without lab/studio and N176,325 to N166,325 for courses with laboratory/studio.

Also, the obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students were reviewed from N100,750 to N80,750 for courses without lab/studio; N140,250 to N120,250 for courses with lab/studio; and from N190,250 to N170,250 for medical / pharmacy students and students in health professions.

The same goes for hostel fees for undergraduate hostels in the Akoka and Yaba campuses, students would now pay N43,000 instead of N90,000; for hostels in the Idi-Araba campus, they would pay  N 65,000 instead of N120,000, while the fees for Sodeinde Hall were reduced to N135,000 from N250,000.

Also, the VC noted that plans were underway to reinstate students’ union activities.

Also, the VC noted that plans were underway to reinstate students’ union activities.

Ogunsola reiterated that no student would drop out, adding that  measures to ease the payment of fees include an instilment payment option, scholarship, revitalisation of a work-study programme, assistance to indigent students, and partnership with Lagos Bus Rapid Transport System.