Students, Parents In Shock As UNILAG Increases Tuition Fees By 400%

By Solomon Babawale

Eko Hot Blog reports that the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has disclosed an increment in its tuition fees due to the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, made the announcement on Thursday during a meeting with the representatives of the non-teaching staff union at the senate committee chamber of the school.

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Ogunsola revealed that the tuition fee for undergraduate students has increased from N20,000 to N100,000 depending on the course of study.

She further stated that the removal of fuel subsidy has led to hike in the price of petrol and caused rising inflation and as such led to the decision to increase tuition fees.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) issued a statement after the meeting, saying “proposed fees for undergraduate students at UNILAG were disclosed, students without lab or studio use would pay N100,750, those with lab or studio use would pay N140,250, and college of medicine undergraduate would pay N190,250.”

The SSANU representative, Comrade Rasaki Yusuf, asked for rebate for staff members with children in the university, but the vice chancellor explained that the charges were set nationally and could not be modified for specific student categories.

She, however offered the option of paying in installments for staff wards with a condition that they pay up one month before the final exams.

The decision to raise tuition fees has met thousands of students and parents/guardians by shock as some took to social media on Friday to express frustration.

In a related development, the Federal Government has also increased the school fees of new students into federal government colleges also known as Federal Unitary Colleges by 122.2%.

This disclosure is contained in a circular from the Office of the Director of Senior Secondary Education Department of the Federal Ministry of Education, with reference number ADF/120/DSSE/I, dated May 25, 2023, and addressed to all Principals of Federal Unity Colleges.

The circular titled, “Approved fees/ charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st Term) for new students,” and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, stated that new students are expected to part with ₦100,000 instead of the previous N45,000.

Nigeria parents have appealed to the President Tinubu to direct the Federal Ministry of Education to reverse the over 100% increment on fees paid by Federal Government colleges or Unity Schools.

They explained that the increment is ill- timed and negates the promise made by the President Tinubu to help Nigerian parents cope with the economic challenges posed by fuel subsidy removal in the country.

Similarly, the House of Representatives had earlier in July directed the Federal Ministry of Education to review the new school fees regime in Federal Government Colleges and revert to the old regime.

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It also urged  the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to the education sector to ensure that Nigerian students have access to quality and affordable education.

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