Education

NANS Meeting with VC Yields Result as UNILAG Reduces Fees

By Web News 404

The management of the University of Lagos, has announced the reduction of its fees after meeting the representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students on Thursday.

A statement made available to newsmen on Friday revealed that the university held a meeting with the executives of the NANS and other faculty members on Thursday evening.

The statement read, “Authorities of the University of Lagos led by the Vice-Chancellor, Proffesor Folasade Ogunsola, on Thursday, September 14, 2023, had a meeting with the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Comrade Usman Umar Barambu accompanied by top officers of the Association and UNILAG Faculty leaders drawn from nine faculties of the University and College of Medicine.”

The statement also revealed that at the commencement of the meeting, Barambu highlighted the demands put forth by the students. The demands include reversal of obligatory fees, reversal of hostel fees, and reinstatement of Students’ Union Government in UNILAG.

However, Ogunsola, stressed that the aim of the University was to deliver quality education to its students regardless of class, tribe or creed.

“After careful evaluation of the issues raised by the students and management, the following consensus was reached at the meeting: Utility Charges for all categories of students was reduced to N15,000:00 from N20,000:00.

“The obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students was reviewed from N100,750:00 to N80,750:00 for Courses without Lab/Studio; N140,250:00 to N120,250:00 for Courses with Lab/Studio; and from N190,250:00 to N170, 250:00 for Medical / Pharmacy students and students in Health Professions.

“The Convocation Fee to be paid by all final year students was reduced to N27,000:00 from N 30,000:00. Hostels fees were reviewed as follows: For undergraduate hostels in Akoka and Yaba campuses, the fees was reduced to N43, 000:00 from N90,000:00.

“For hostels in Idi-Araba campus, the fees was reduced to N65,000:00 from N120,000:00. The fees for Sodeinde Hall was reduced to N135,000:00 from N250,000:00.”

Some students of the University of Lagos, on Wednesday, took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the raised tuition fees announced by the school management.

In July, the UNILAG authorities announced a rise in tuition fees for both new and returning undergraduate students, citing the current economic conditions as the reason behind the decision.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Education

NANS Decries Tuition Hike, Threatens Protest

By Web News 315

The National Association of Nigerian Students has condemned the planned increment of school fees by tertiary institutions in the country.

In a statement signed by the National PRO, Giwa Temitope and released on Saturday, NANS declared that the government’s action is “insensitive” and “embarrassing”.

The association also stressed that the government has what it takes to fund education and make it accessible, noting that the introduction of the student loan scheme is a sham and a bait to make Nigerians accept fee increments.

The association stated that there is no justification for an increase in school fees across tertiary institutions and Unity schools.

It demanded that the increase in school fees should be suspended, adding that those who have implemented the policy should reverse it immediately.

“We must state categorically that there is no justification for increment in school fees across our tertiary institutions and even Unity schools. Our demand is clear and simple; the attempt to increase school fees must be suspended. And, those that have floated it must reverse it with immediate effect.”

NANS also called on Nigerian students to prepare for an all-round protest until the Federal Government reverses the policy, similar to the one during the prolonged ASUU strike.

“We call on Nigerian students to brace up and be prepared for an all-round protest as was done during the prolonged ASUU strike until the Federal Government reverses this policy.

“The increment of school fees at UNILAG and the planned increment across tertiary institutions in the country has shown this administration to be a very insensitive one.

“As a matter of fact, it is most ridiculous and embarrassing that the government will be introducing fees increment without thinking of rescuing over 133 million Nigerian people from multidimensional poverty.

“Increment in fees across tertiary institutions will only complicate the poverty situation of the country and also increase the number of out-of-school children.

“As an association, we believe that the Nigerian government has what it takes to massively fund education and make it accessible. In fact, the student loan that was introduced by the Federal Government is nothing but a sham and bait to lure the Nigerian people into accepting increments in fees payable.

“Beyond the fact that the terms of the loan are ridiculous, history has taught us that not every applicant will be considered. And, even if all of them were to be considered, it still does not justify an increment in an economy that tops the unemployment index. Rather than give loans, the government must provide grants and scholarships for students.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Education

Subsidy Tsunami: Unity Schools Fee Hiked to N100,000, UNILAG over N190,000

By Web News 645

Amidst escalating cost of living in the country, some educational institutions have announced significant increases in tuition and other fees, while others are planning to do so in order to cope with the effects of the removal of subsidy on petrol.

This is putting parents on the edge as the current academic session draws to a close for primary and secondary schools, while the calendar of tertiary institutions has been impacted by incessant strikes and crises.

On Friday, primary and secondary schools in Lagos and some other states brought the academic calendar to a close and some informed parents and guardians of pupils to prepare for a significant rise in fees when the next academic session begins in September.

Leading the school owners who had announced tuition fees increment was the Federal Government, which through the Federal Ministry of Education announced an upward review of school fees for new students into its secondary schools otherwise known as Federal Unity Colleges from N19,000 to N100,000.

This was contained in a directive from the office of the Director of Senior Secondary Education Department of the ministry with reference number ADF/120/DSSE/I, dated May 25, 2023, and addressed to all principals of Federal Unity Colleges.

According to the circular titled, ‘Approved fees/ charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st term) for new students’, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, new students are expected to pay N100,000 instead of the previous N45,000.

The latest fee/charge increment will affect virtually all aspects and activities of the schools, including tuition and boarding, uniform, textbooks, exercise books, prospectus, caution fee, identity card, stationery, clubs and societies, sports, extra lesson and insurance, among others.

“Please be informed that the ministry has approved only the under-listed fees and charges for all Unity Colleges,” the memo read in part.

Similarly, the management of the University of Lagos, Akoka, reportedly increased the fees for undergraduates in the institution.

This was contained in a statement dated July 20, 2023, by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, UNILAG branch, following a meeting with the top management of the institution.

The union said in the statement that fees would be increased for undergraduate students in the next academic session.

Students of the institution previously paid N19,000 for tuition, but the management has now fixed N190,250 for students studying Medicine, while for courses that require laboratories and studios are to pay N140,250.

According to SSANU, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, met with representatives of the three non-academic staff unions on Thursday to discuss issues concerning members’ welfare.

“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 the College of Medicine will pay N190,250,” the statement said.

The SSANU representative at the meeting, Rasaki Yusuf, however, asked for a rebate for staff members with children in the university, but the vice-chancellor insisted that 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.

The UNILAG management later issued a statement confirming the development.

The statement said, “After careful deliberations with its stakeholders (students, parents/guardians, staff unions and alumni, among others), the University of Lagos Management has reviewed the obligatory fees (mandatory charges for an academic session/year) of new and returning undergraduate students of the university.

“The adjustment in fees, which will take effect from the first semester of the 2023/2024 academic session, is in view of the prevailing economic realities and the need for the university to be able to meet its obligations to its students, staff and municipal service providers, among others.

“It is also pertinent to note that the university has not increased its obligatory fees in recent years. Management, therefore, seeks the kind understanding and support of students and other stakeholders with the assurance of its commitment to ensuring that students get the best learning experience.”

Similarly, the President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Chief Yomi Otubela, said the removal of subsidy on petrol had hit the education sector hard and the effects would be felt more in the months ahead.

According to him, most private school owners are battling with the withdrawal of pupils and the resignation of teachers, who are increasingly finding it difficult to commute to school.

Otubela said “We have so many parents who are withdrawing their children from school for their inability to meet up with the cost of transporting them to school or even paying the school fees. We have teachers who have tendered their resignation because their take-home pays can no longer take them home and back to school.

“We have instances where vendors, who supply one material or the other, have increased the cost of their materials. For instance, publishers have taken the cost of books from N25,000 to N65,000 for all books needed on average in all classes. We have instances where the use of technology is becoming obsolete because people can no longer fuel their generators and there is a limit to what the solar system can power.

“As it is now, we have a report of so many schools selling off their buses because the cost of patronising buses to parents has tripled and there is so much uncertainty as to what the actual price will be with the rising inflation. Generally, there is so much uncertainty within the private school sector. We consulted experts and all of them are beginning to see where many private schools will cease to exist and some will reduce the quality of education while looking for ways to weather the storm.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Raping UNILAG Student

By Web News 732

An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court has sentenced a man, Collins Okechukwu, to life imprisonment for raping and robbing a 25-year-old UNILAG student (name withheld) on the school campus.

Justice Abiola Soladoye described Okechukwu in her judgment as a “pathological liar”, noting that the prosecution proved the charge of defilement against the convict beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The testimony of the defence portrayed him as a pathological liar in the sense that the University of Lagos (Unilag) Guest House was fully booked, and the survivor was sex-starved, which made them have sex on a bare floor.

“This is unbelievable and watery as there is no consent where force is used to have sex. The defendant lured the survivor into the Admin block, brought out a pistol, robbed her of valuables and raped her.

“The evidence of the defendant to have met the survivor at the Guest House and agreed to have sex with him was consistently laced with irregularities and found unreliable.

“The defendant is found guilty as charged of the two offences and thereby sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and 21 years jail term for robbery.

The sentence shall run concurrently.

“He should have his name entered in the Sex Offenders Register of the Lagos State Government,” she said.

Justice Sholadoye, in her judgement, cautioned female students in tertiary institutions to be very discerning in giving out their phone numbers to strangers.

She said, “what manner of a woman is the victim herself? she should desist from giving out her numbers for unnecessary frolicking,”

The State prosecutor called four witnesses, and three exhibits were tendered during the trial.

According to the Lagos State prosecution counsel, Mr Peter Owolabani, the defendant committed the offence on Dec. 17 2017, at 9.00 p.m., behind the Faculty of Arts Building, University of Lagos.

The prosecutor said the defendant lured the survivor behind the building after they had lodged in the Guest House and raped her.

The defendant also robbed the survivor of her phone, money and gold chain.

He further submitted that the survivor, who later met the defendant a year after the incident, invited him to her “supposed birthday party” and got him arrested.

FRCN Abuja/Olaolu Fawole