Finally, Fashola reduces LASU fees by 34% to 60%

Protesting LASU students

After weeks of intense battle with determined students, Lagos State government yesterday rose from its Executive Council meeting to reduce fees charged in the Lagos State University, LASU, by 34 to 60 per cent. SHOWBIZPLUSng learnt that this truce is coming after much flexing of muscles between the students of the institution and the state government.

The state government, however left the final decision of the reduction from one department to the other to the Governing Council of the university.

In the resolution read by Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, the Lagos State Government, stated that it accepted recommendation of the Adhoc committee set up by the state government that fees and charges payable by students for incidental services and materials were amenable to a downward review for two main reasons.

“Some of the components have applied to students across all levels when in fact they can be justifiably limited to students at a particular level only; 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 to 60 percent is possible across the different faculties and courses”, government said in the resolution.

AMOUNT REDUCED FOR VARIOUS FACULTIES BASED ON THE 34-60 % REDUCTION

FACULTIES OLD FEES (N) 34% REDUCTION (N) 60% REDUCTION (N) Arts/Education 193, 750 65, 875 116, 250 Social/Mngment Science 223, 750 76, 075 134, 250 Communication/Transpt 238, 750 81, 175 143, 250 Law 248, 750 84, 575 149, 250 Engineering 298, 750 101, 575 179, 250 College of Medicine 348, 750 118, 575 209, 250

The council said it approved the reduction in accordance with the law setting up the university, saying that it had forwarded its approval to the governing council for consideration and implementation.

“Pursuant to its statutory 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”, and advised all individuals and groups within the community to relate to the university council accordingly.

The council observed that notwithstanding the reduction, government will continue with scholarships and bursary provisions for students.

On the retirement age for lecturers, the council is of the view that the decision cannot be unilaterally extended by employees themselves unless the employers cede total control of the institution to employees, which it said is not possible in this instance.

“Regarding the Vice Chancellor’s tenure of office, government also considers it a state prerogative exercisable by Law pursuant to concurrent legislative power of the state government to establish the university and make statutory provisions for their management, and not that of its employees or proprietors of other universities. Government will retain the option of a second term for a Vice Chancellor in order to benefit from good leadership whenever the occasion arises.”

Students reject new offer In a swift reaction, the students speaking through the President of the Students Union Government, SUG, Mr. Nurudeen Yusuf, rejected the reduction as announced by the government.

According to him, ‘We had our meeting immediately after we got the news and decided that we will not accept this reduction. It is a ridiculous one as far as we are concerned. This is our position. When the Lagos State Government increased the fees in 2011, it was not announced through the Governing Council.

It was the Government that announced it. But now, the Governor is sending the Governing Council to us, he is supposed to make such a announcement by himself. Another issue is this: why are we being given this information in terms of percentages? How can a market woman whose child is in LASU calculate 34 – 60 percent? Even then, it is not a fair position at all. We want it to be reduced to at most N65, 500 for fresh students and N46, 500 for freshers. “We are not yet happy about the latest development because the govt is yet to tell us the exact amount they have reduced the fees to in Naira and Kobo.

They should come out in clear terms to tell us directly the exact amount we are going to be paying, not saying the Governing Council will determine the amount each faculty will be paying. When the fees were hiked in 2011, it was government who directly told us in naira and kobo what each faculty will pay, and not in percentages. This is our stand which will be made known in a press conference tomorrow” (today).

Meanwhile when contacted to confirm the reduction, the Pro-Chancellor, Mr. Teju Augusto said: “I am currently out of the country, so I am not aware of any reduction.”

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