Reduce our Tution fees by 30%, LASU students protest

Students of Lagos State University (LASU) yesterday blocked the busy Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway to protest impending 30 per cent reduction in school fees by the state government. Commuters who had plied the road had their travel time delayed by about one and half hours as the protesting students blocked the two ends of the road to press home their demand on the state government. Men of the Area F command of the Nigerian Police Force led by their Divisional Commander, Mr Emmanuel Ugwu were however on hand to ensure that the protest did not degenerate out of control. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the welfare director of the Faculty of Education, Mr Hakeem Akinola stated that they (the students) have rejected the 30 per cent reduction, which they claim was being dangled at them by the state government. To him and the other students the only acceptable fee was for government to allow the payment of N46, 500 for returning students while fresh students are to pay the sum of N65, 000 as fees to the school. “We are here because of our school fees, we have heard that the state government has decided to reduce the fees to be paid by 30 per cent from what they are asking us to pay. We are telling them that the only fee we can pay is N 45, 000 for returning students while freshers must pay N65, 000 as school fees,” Akinola said. A government functionary who pleaded not to be named as he was not authorised to speak on the issue told LEADERSHIP in a telephone chat that the action was pre-emptive as government is yet to formally take a decision on the fees regime. “Their action is pre-emptive, no decision has been taken on the issue,” the unnamed official said, adding, “May be you should ask them how they will feel if they get a better bargain from government from what they are requesting for now.” Source: Leadership