The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the University of Lagos (UNILAG) management a 48-hour deadline to rescind the fee hike in the institution.
NANS executives condemned the arrest of students protesting fee hike at UNILAG Junction on Thursday. The executives were led by National Public Relations Officer Giwa Temitope, National Vice President External Akinteye Afeez, and Deputy Senate President Ekundina Elvis.
Reportedly, some of the demonstrators, including Adeyeye Olorunfemi, Philip Olatinwo, Aduwo Ayodele, and Giwa, were subsequently released by the police in the evening. Security forces had employed tear gas to scatter the students at UNILAG Junction during the protest.
The Lagos State Police Command requested that the students inform them of their protest plans on Tuesday so that they could take appropriate measures. However, the students objected, stating that protesting is a fundamental human right.
Speaking at a press conference held at the International Press Centre in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, the student leaders stated, “We want to state that the repression that was meted out during our protest on Wednesday against the astronomical increase in fees payable at the University of Lagos is condemnable.”
According to reports the decision to protest was made after the University of Lagos allegedly failed to meet of the agreement that was reached with the students on August 2, 2023.
“where the Vice Chancellor assured us that the fee would be reversed and reviewed through a joint body of students and management staff of the university.”
When asked for a response on Wednesday, the Head of Communications at the University of Lagos, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, said that the management does not oppose lawful protests. She advised the students to direct their complaints to the appropriate channels.
“The university is not against lawful and peaceful protests by our students. Our students, who are currently on vacation, are enjoined to channel all grievances through the Dean, Student Affairs, who is officially empowered to interact with students,” Alaga-Ibraheem said in a chat with our correspondent.
However, affirming their determination to stage another protest at UNILAG, the NANS leaders declared, “The management of the University of Lagos is hereby given 48 hours ultimatum to immediately reverse the fees as agreed upon and refund students that must have paid the astronomical fees.”
“Consequently, all students’ union presidents, NANS leadership, and the Nigerian students are hereby put on notice to begin mobilisations. We shall be hitting the UNILAG gates again. The country is bleeding economically and education cannot be traded for illiteracy. It is our fundamental human right to be educated. The police authority must henceforth stop the repression of students and people’s protests. We warn all higher education and Unity Schools never to add a kobo to the fees,” they added.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) management increased tuition fees for students studying medicine from N19,000 to N190,250 while for courses that require laboratory and studio, the students were to pay N140,250 in July 2023. The management cited “prevailing economic realities” as the reason for the increase.