How LASU Students Forced Fashola To Restore N25,000 Tuition Fees

Many students of the Lagos state University (LASU) are yet to believe the order by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola Raji, that the institution's tuition fees be reverted to N20,000.

Fashola made the surprising, but highly appreciated, announcement at the venue of LASU's convocation ceremony.

The governor who had attended LASU's convocation met a hostile crowd of protesters made up of leaders of the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and other students.

Even before the governor's arrival, security operatives had had to disperse protesters who tried to stop the institution's Vice Chancellor from getting to the convocation.

But as soon as Fashola gave the order to revert to the old fees, the protesting students change their aluta songs to praise-singing.

“APC, Change!” the chanted.

It will be recalled that Student Pulse recently reported that SSANU, LASU Chapter, suspended its 3-month-old strike, "giving the authorities till Aug. 5 to pay the outstanding salaries."

SSANU had planned to disrupt the convocation ceremony over their demands which included a reduction in tuition fee, repeal of LASU’s 'no-vacancy-no-promotion' policy, and implementation of the 2012 Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act.

A Long Battle, A Total Victory

Following continuous students protests and a heavy clampdown that was criticised by many, like Nigeria's Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who accused Governor Fashola of being high-handed and urged him to "take it easy".

But neither the clampdown nor the closure stopped the students from pushing on until a reconsideration by the Lagos State government led to a substantial reduction in the tuition fees and a reopening of the institution.

LASUSU rejected the up-to 60% reduction in tuition fees, stating that only a fee of  N46,500 for returning students and no more than N65, 500 for newly admitted students would be acceptable.

The union later proposed N20,000 as tuition fee, N10,000 as acceptance fees and N500 as caution fee, for all the faculties.

Following further demands, the Public Relations Officer of LASU, Kayode Sutton, on Friday 18th of July said said the new tuition fees announced on June 20th, with between 34 - 60% reduction, is the final review.

With Fashola's announcement, the students have won a big victory.

Interestingly, the students union president said it was a victory that could have been won earlier if all students had remained resolute.