The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has announced increment of tuition fees for the students of the institution as hardships bite harder in the country.
The Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, disclosed this development during a meeting held with representatives of non-teaching staff unions on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the Senate Committee Chamber of the university.
According to Professor Ogunsola, the proposed fees for undergraduate students will see a substantial increase from the previous amount of about N20,000 to over N100,000, depending on the course of study.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola said: “it is no longer news that the University of Lagos tuition has not changed in the last 20 years but the cost of managing education has skyrocketed astronomically”.
The development is coming at the center of rising inflation and hikes in petrol prices following the removal of subsidy in the country.
Previously students of the institution paid N19,000 but management has fixed new fees at N190,250 for students studying medicine while for courses that require laboratory and studio, students are to pay N140,250.
Programmes that do not require lab and studio are fixed at N100, 750.
This was contained in statement dated July 20, 2023 by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) UNILAG branch following a meeting with the top management staff.
According to SSANU, the VC Prof. Ogunsola met with representatives of the three non-academic staff unions on Thursday, July 20th to discuss issues concerning members welfare.
The union, in the statement, said the VC stated that fees would be increased for UNILAG undergraduate students.
“During the meeting, the proposed fees for undergraduate students of UNILAG were disclosed. Students without lab and studio use will pay N100,750, those with lab use will pay N140,250, and college of medicine would pay N190,250,” the statement said.
According to the statement, a SSANU representative at the meeting, Rasaki Yusuf asked for rebate for staff members with children in the university.
But the VC said the new charges were set nationally and could not be modified for specific categories of students.
Ogunsola however, gave the option of staff paying in instalments but with a condition to pay up one month before final exams.
Nigerians have taken to twitter to express thier frustration and have reacted angrily to the development
Reacting to the increment on Twitter, a Nigerian, Pamilerin Adegoke @UnclePamilerin, said “I have 2 sisters in Unilag. Their school fees just went up. “School fees increased from 16k to 100,750 “21k to 140,250”
Another Nigerian, @TheMahleek, tweeted: “When UNILAG school fees dey around 16k, you dey collect 100k for house “Now wey dem don increase money to 140k, how much you go talk for house? ”
A Twitter user, Alabi @the_Lawrenz, wrote: “My prayers goes to those unilag students who couldn’t even afford the normal 16k before and have now lost hope seeing the new fees development. “May God strengthen and provide for you.”
Another Twitter user, Shoemaker@Gracie_oguns, said: “The truth is, some people student in unilag couldn’t even afford the 16k fees now that school fees 100k plus how will they cope?”
Omogbonjubolanle @bambi__bambs, said: “Unilag just increased school fees to N100,750 from N16,000 “All I just want to know before I pay this rubbish is if they’ve left ASUU because I can’t be paying 100k and be going on 6months strike.”
