LASU students reject new fees

The Lagos State University, LASU, Students Union, on Thursday directed its members not to pay the new tuition fees until a further reduction was made by the state government.
This was disclosed in a press statement, signed by the Union’s President, Nurudeen Yusuf.
It said that the tuition fee was high, in view of the economic situation of the state, when compared to the relative fees payable in other universities across the country.
The state governor, Babatunde Fashola, had on June 11, announced a 34 per cent to 60 per cent reduction on the LASU tuition fees. This was sequel to protests from the students and civil society groups.
The University’s Governing Council had on June 20 released a breakdown of the new tuition fees which ranged from N76, 750 to N158, 250.
It was against the increase in fees announced in 2011, from N25, 000 to N198, 000 for humanities and education, while medical students were required to pay N348, 000.
However, the students union insisted that the fees be reduced to N46, 500 for returning students and N65, 500 for fresh students, as proposed by them to the governor.
Meanwhile, the LASU management had on June 23 recalled students from recess, directing them to commence payment of the new tuition fees and their registration. This was in spite of the on-going lecturers’ strike that started on May 20.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, LASU Chapter, had also been on strike since May 26.
The Students’ Union said its decision was taken at a meeting on June 30.
“Following the meeting, the union resolved that students should resume with immediate effect but strongly warns that no student should pay the fee, until further notice,” the statement said.
It, however, called for the reduction or withdrawal of some charges such as: acceptance fee, tuition, caution and field trip/teaching practice levy.
According to the statement, other charges the students requested for reduction include laboratory and practical/workshop/studio work.
The statement also rejected the July 6 deadline for payments and tasked the management to suspend payment of the fees until the union concludes negotiations with the government.
It also noted that students who paid cannot access the registration portal.
The statement added that the students complained that the management had yet to resolve some pending issues with the Quick Teller.
“SSANU is also on strike, hence there is no one to attend to issues relating to inability to register for our courses and problems with payment,” the statement noted.
It stated that the union remained unrelenting and consistent in its agitation against the hike, which it said, negated the founding ideology of the university.
(NAN)