Confusion as Lagos slashes LASU fees

 

       

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• Students reject 34-60 per cent cut

• The Lagos Government yesterday bowed to the overwhelming pressures of the Lagos State University (LASU) students to reduce their tuition fees three years after it was jacked up. But there was confusion over the exact amount to be paid by different categories of students as the government only reduced the fee by 34-60 per cent, saying the institution’s Governing Council would do so.

This was even as the students, in a swift reaction, kicked against the 34-60 per cent reduction, calling on the government to categorically state the amount to be paid by students of various faculties and disciplines. The students had in April 24, 2014 proposed N46,500 for returning students and N65,500 as tuition fee, saying it would not accept anything more.
Briefing journalists on the resolution of the state government executive council, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Mr. Fatai Olukoga, said the council had ordered the University Governing Council to immediately implement the 34- 60 per cent school fees reduction.
Olukoga, who was flanked by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji and Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said the government decided to reduce the fees after extensive deliberation on the report of the ad hoc committee.
Olukoga said: “The ad hoc committee has recommended and government has accepted that the fees and charges payable by students for incidental services and materials are amendable to a downward review for two main reasons: One, some of the fees component have been applied to students across all levels when in fact they can be justifiably limited to students at a particular level only; two, some of the charges included can still be reduced on compassionate grounds.
“On the basis of these principles, government agrees that with the subsidised tuition fees and appropriate moderation of the incidental fees, a reduction ranging from 34 per cent to 60 per cent is possible across the different faculties and courses. “Government has therefore approved the reduction and, in accordance with the law setting up the university, forwarded its approval to the Lagos State University Governing Council for consideration and implementation.
“Pursuant to its mandate, the university Governing Council will issue details of what is now payable by students in each department and deal with all other management matters of the university. All individuals and groups within the community are advised to relate to the university council accordingly.”
But the students have rejected the latest offer by the Visitor to the institution, Governor Babatunde Fashola. Speaking to New Telegraph yesterday, the university’s Students’ Union President, Nurudeen Yusuff, said the union rejected the new offer, insisting that the governor should make himself clear by stating the exact fees for each of the categories of students.
Yusuff, who said the governor was clear when increasing the fees, asked the government not to be ambiguous with its position but to be clear in terms of the payable fees. Yusuff said: “This is a confirmation of the fraud we had been talking about.
How could a government that did not announce its increment in terms of percentage because it was in the range of over 700, now turn round to announce its reduction in terms of percentage because it is insignificant.
“No matter what people label us, we shall continue to oppose whatever offer that does not amount to our recommendation. So, we advise Governor Fashola to be magnanimous enough to tell us what exact amount each category of us would be paying.”
It will be recalled that since 2011 when the fees ranging from N195,500 to N345,500 had been introduced, there had been mass protests not only from students but also from other individuals and various civil societies.
NEW TELEGRAPH