UNILAG raises charges as Vice Chancellor bemoans monthly electricity bill of 'over N150m'
Ahead of the 2023/2024 academic calendar year, the management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, announced new fees payable by both new undergraduates and returning students.
The new fee scheme, which varies between N120,750 and N240,250 depending on the course of study and levels, was announced in a statement issued by the university management on Friday, a copy of which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES by the head of the communication unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem.
But the university said it had measures in place to help "truly needy" students, noting that it had data on affected students and would "continue to ensure their survival through these measures".
The development comes at a time when Nigerians are lamenting the removal of subsidies on petroleum products and the consequent consequence of rising prices at the pump.
But the university's vice-chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, said the process of introducing the new fees predated the subsidy's abolition, saying the university had engaged in dialogue with affected stakeholders, including students and parents, since January.
Ms Ogunsola, a professor of medical microbiology, told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that the old fee regime is no longer viable, noting that the university has consistently run deficits of around N1 billion a year.
She said that when students are on campus, the university pays up to about 160 million naira per month to a power utility company, "apart from the huge costs we incur for diesel, water, janitorial services, among others."
The university had held a meeting on Wednesday with relevant parties on campus, including staff unions, where the issue was assessed.
Until the last announcement, undergraduate students returning to campus ranged from N26,000 to approximately N76,000, depending on the degree programs and student level.
Like UNILAG like UNIBEN, UNIMAID, othersEarlier this year, other tertiary institutions in Nigeria including the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State; The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) have increased their tuition fees by high percentages.
For example, at UNIMAID, medical students pay different fees depending on their level. Final year students pay the highest fee of N256,000 while the lowest fee payable by medical students is N112,000 for students in the Department of Physiotherapy.
In fact, at the University of Abuja, following the announcement of the fee increase on May 1, some student leaders accused of mobilizing students for protests were rustic.
UNIBEN students also complained bitterly about what they described as the imposition of the new fee regime by the administration of new Vice-Chancellor Lillian Salami.
New distribution of UNILAG feesAccording to the statement issued by UNILAG, the compulsory fees for new undergraduate students indicate that the university has not introduced fees.
However, all new students taking courses without using labs and studios will pay a flat rate of N156,325, while their counterparts who would be required to use labs or studios will pay N206,325.
Ahead of the 2023/2024 academic calendar year, the management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, announced new fees payable by both new undergraduates and returning students.
The new fee scheme, which varies between N120,750 and N240,250 depending on the course of study and levels, was announced in a statement issued by the university management on Friday, a copy of which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES by the head of the communication unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem.
But the university said it had measures in place to help "truly needy" students, noting that it had data on affected students and would "continue to ensure their survival through these measures".
The development comes at a time when Nigerians are lamenting the removal of subsidies on petroleum products and the consequent consequence of rising prices at the pump.
But the university's vice-chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, said the process of introducing the new fees predated the subsidy's abolition, saying the university had engaged in dialogue with affected stakeholders, including students and parents, since January.
Ms Ogunsola, a professor of medical microbiology, told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that the old fee regime is no longer viable, noting that the university has consistently run deficits of around N1 billion a year.
She said that when students are on campus, the university pays up to about 160 million naira per month to a power utility company, "apart from the huge costs we incur for diesel, water, janitorial services, among others."
The university had held a meeting on Wednesday with relevant parties on campus, including staff unions, where the issue was assessed.
Until the last announcement, undergraduate students returning to campus ranged from N26,000 to approximately N76,000, depending on the degree programs and student level.
Like UNILAG like UNIBEN, UNIMAID, othersEarlier this year, other tertiary institutions in Nigeria including the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State; The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) have increased their tuition fees by high percentages.
For example, at UNIMAID, medical students pay different fees depending on their level. Final year students pay the highest fee of N256,000 while the lowest fee payable by medical students is N112,000 for students in the Department of Physiotherapy.
In fact, at the University of Abuja, following the announcement of the fee increase on May 1, some student leaders accused of mobilizing students for protests were rustic.
UNIBEN students also complained bitterly about what they described as the imposition of the new fee regime by the administration of new Vice-Chancellor Lillian Salami.
New distribution of UNILAG feesAccording to the statement issued by UNILAG, the compulsory fees for new undergraduate students indicate that the university has not introduced fees.
However, all new students taking courses without using labs and studios will pay a flat rate of N156,325, while their counterparts who would be required to use labs or studios will pay N206,325.
What's Your Reaction?
