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LASU Students Turn 'Oliver Twist' Over Tuition Fees

Though they successfully forced the management to reduce their fees, LASU students are demanding a further downwards review of their fees, setting up a potential face-off

After a long battle that spanned over a calendar year, the management of Lagos State University (LASU), bowed down to sustained pressure from the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU) and announced up to 60% reduction in tuition fees.

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While many across the country and in Lagos state have quickly hailed the move as a victory for the students, they have come out to demand a further reduction.

The trouble started in 2011 when the LASU management increased the tuition fee N25,000 to N198, 000 for humanities and education students and N350,000 for medical students.

And it has been a stormy ride for the institution since then.

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Resolute Students, A Broken Management

Several protest were held by the students, culminating in the highly criticised police attack on LASUSU members that left as many as 16 students injured and several others arrested..

The protests however did not stop, even after the June 2nd closure of the institution, and on Thursday the 19th of  June, LASU spokesperson, Kayode Sutton, announced a reduction in the fees and a re-opening date, Monday 23rd of June.

"The Governing Council of the University has approved new school fees which now ranges between N76,250.00 for a final year student in the Arts Department (49.3% reduction), and N158, 250.00 for a 200 level Engineering and Medical (Direct entry) student," Sutton said in a statement issued to the press.

In its 'magnanimity', the management also said the students can pay the fees in instalments.

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"Tuition fees can be paid in full or in two installments of 70 percent (Harmattan Semester) and the balance of 30 percent at the beginning of Rain Semester," Sutton said.

'Oliver Twists'?

According to NAN, LASUSU is seeking a further reduction in the fees.

They want a maximum of  N46,500 for returning students and no more than N65, 500 for newly admitted students.

Interestingly, following the announcement of the new regime of fees, which Sutton said " is not applicable to students at 400 level and above", LASU management, as stated in a NAN report, on June 23rd claimed that as many as 900 students had paid the fees.

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This has however been faulted by LASUSU President, Nurudeen Yusuf, who claims that the figures quoted proves that returning LASU students are yet to comply.

"We are about 8,000 students in LASU; the 2013/2014 newly admitted students are 1,014, which means only 900 could afford to pay before their matriculation.

"If the management claims that over 900 students have paid, it is the newly admitted students and definitely not the returning students," Yusuf said.

As the drama plays on, many are alleging that the students are asking for too much.

Meanwhile, students protests are springing up all over the country as institutions announce astronomical hike in the fees.

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Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, students are still up-in-arms with the management of the institution which announced a similar hike in fees recently.

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