The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has announced a reduction in its mandatory fees for students following a lengthy meeting held with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
The decision to lower fees came after a marathon meeting that lasted over five hours, initiated by UNILAG management to address the ongoing student protests and concerns about fee increases that began in July.
As per the university’s spokesperson, Mrs. Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, the fee adjustments are as follows:
Mandatory fees for new undergraduates without Lab/Studio courses have been reduced from N126,325 to N116,325. For students with Lab/Studio courses, fees have been reduced from N176,325 to N166,325.
Returning students will now pay N80,750 instead of N100,750 for courses without Lab/Studio, N120,250 instead of N140,250 for courses with Lab/Studio, and N170,250 instead of N190,250 for those studying medicine and pharmacy.
All students will pay N15,000 instead of N20,000 for utility fees, which cover electricity, waste disposal, and more. The Convocation fee has been adjusted to N27,000 from N30,000.
Hostel fees for undergraduates in Akoka and Yaba campuses have been reduced to N43,000 from N90,000, and the medical students’ hostel in Idi-Araba campus is now N65,000 instead of N120,000. Sodeinde Hall fees have been lowered to N135,000 from N250,000.
Alaga-Ibraheem further explained that students who have already paid the full mandatory fees will work out a plan with the school to resolve the difference. Those on installment payments will adjust their fees accordingly.
She added that the university is also implementing measures such as installment payments, scholarship grants, work-study programs, and a student sponsorship project to assist financially disadvantaged students, ensuring that no student drops out due to the fee adjustments.
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Good Evening Nigeria recalls that UNILAG students have been paying an average of N20,000 in obligatory fees annually for the past 15 years.
However, the management cited the current economic reality and inflation as reasons for the fee adjustments.
In a joint statement released by NANS, the student body confirmed the fee reduction and announced that student union activities would be reinstated on campus.
They stated that no student would face victimization based on their active roles during the protests.
