The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has been accused of betraying its indigent students by denying them accommodation and now, potentially, their education.
In a statement yesterday signed by office of the secretariat, Student Solidarity Group (SSG) has spoken out against the University’s actions, claiming that the exclusion of indigent students from the balloting exercise for hostel accommodation sends a clear message that the hostels are only for the rich.
The SSG also alleges that the University’s top management team, including the Dean of Student Affairs, are involved in racketeering, with the University willing to sell accommodation spaces to the highest bidder.
Furthermore, the SSG claimed that the University has gathered the names of a few indigent students to show the public that something is being done, but with only 72 hours left for course registration, none of these students have been catered for.
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As a result, UNILAG students have taken to social media platforms to beg for help, with GoFundMe broadcasts on WhatsApp becoming as numerous as Jaja bedbugs.
The SSG has called on the University to address the situation and provide adequate support for its indigent students, who are now at risk of being completely discarded and unable to pursue their dreams.
The public is also being urged to support these students in any way possible.
Recall that the Vice chancellor in a bid to dissuade students from participating in protest which is the only thing that can force the University authorities to revert the heinous fees imposed on students said that “No Unilag student will drop out as a result of fee hike”.
This fake promise that could be likened to the “E lo fokan bale” slogan of Tinubu was widely published by major national newspapers. ( https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/624397-none-of-our-students-will-drop-out-over-fee-hike-unilag-vc.html, https://punchng.com/fee-hike-no-unilag-studentll-drop-out-vc/?amp, https://guardian.ng/news/unilag-reduces-fees-assures-no-student-will-drop-out/amp/, https://sunnewsonline.com/unilag-assures-no-studentll-drop-out-over-fee-increment-rules-out-review/?amp).
The statement partly read, “Students are now street beggars just to be able to retain and continue the programs they started. Those who can’t withstand the pressure are contemplating suicide.
“Because the masses only learn from experience, time has justified the positions of the SSG that no matter the increment in fees, the standard of living and learning on campus will not improve. Aside from a few crumbles, there has been nothing significant to show for the criminal increments. Despite paying the increased fees, students are still continuously exploited and milked dry in their various departments and faculties as they are forced to pay several other charges ranging from laboratory fee, manual fee, departmental fees, lecture materials fee and several other illegal fees despite the promise from the Vice Chancellor that “the hiked fee will be a one time payment for students without any additional charges”.
READ ALSO: Students’ group rejects UNILAG token reduction in fees
“Events have proven how dishonest the University authorities are and the SSG has been justified that the authorities cannot be trusted.
“The University has cancelled all the promises made to students one after the other. The reinstatement of the Students’ Union has been completely abandoned by the University authorities. It has taken the Vice chancellor over 10 weeks and still counting to reinstate a Students’ Union that took the University authorities less than 5 hours to proscribe in the wake of 2016 crises.
“It is on this note that we call on the University authority to immediately reinstate the Students’ Union. We also call on the University authorities as a matter of urgency to immediately extend the deadline for course registration until all indigent students are attended to. We call on all indigent students to take their destinies into their own hands by storming the Counseling Unit and the Students’ Affairs division en masse to demand that the Vice chancellor fulfill her social contract that “No Unilag Student will drop out as a result of fee hike”.
Ultimately, our demand that fees must fall for all students to have access to higher education that is devoid of oppression and suffering, stands!”
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