UNILAG introduces instalment payment to cushion effect of fee hike

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has introduced measures to cushion the challenges that students and parents/guardians may face due to the recent hike of its obligatory fees.

In July, the federal university announced an upward review in its fees meant to take effect from September 1.

This put the sessional mandatory charges for new undergraduate students at ₦‎126,325 for courses without a lab/studio and ₦‎176,325 for one academic session for courses that use a laboratory or studio.

The sessional mandatory charges for returning students were put at ₦‎100,750 for courses without labs and studios while that of courses with access to labs and studios were fixed at ₦‎140,250.

UNILAG also said the approved charge for all medical students of the institution is ₦‎190,250.

The fee hike had sparked outrage. Some students also registered their anger during a protest on Wednesday.

The protesting students were, however, met with force by the police who dispersed them with tear gas.

Addressing journalists on Saturday, Folasade Ogunsola, the university vice-chancellor, said the increase in students’ fees became imperative to enable the institution to “deliver quality education”.

Ogunsola said the varsity has introduced measures to ease students’ ability to pay the fees.

The VC said the measures include “installment payments, adopted students, work and study programme, and the indigent package”.

“The other thing we did is to introduce installment payment. So they will pay 50% when they come in,” she said.

“They will pay another 20% by exam time, and then 30% when they come in for the second semester. Once you come in you can apply for accommodation, which will not be stopped.”

Ogunsola also said with the new measures put in place, no returning student will drop out if “they come to us”.

“No UNILAG student will drop out if they come to us. They will not. None of our students will drop out,” she said.

“Let them come. I can assure you that we have taken care of that. That is why we talked about the indigent package. None of them will drop out. If they see the DSA, they will not drop out.”