Students at the University of Lagos who have been protesting against a recent increase in tuition fees, have announced plans to conduct a referendum among the student body.
The Students’ Solidarity Group Against Fees Hike released a press statement on Tuesday stating that the referendum is necessary to determine the students’ next course of action regarding the fee hike.
The university management increased tuition fees in July, raising them from approximately N20,000 to over N100,000, depending on the course of study.
The students argue that the high fees are making education inaccessible to many deserving students and placing a heavy burden on those already enrolled.
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The university management recently reduced the fee increase by 10% following pressure from the students, but the students deny having reached an agreement with the management regarding the reduction.
The statement partly reads: “It’s almost one week since the announcement of a paltry reduction in the obligatory fees by the Management of the University of Lagos and as a group we released both in texts and audio-visuals our preliminary objection which were shared across board,”
“The undemocratic nature of the discussion through an “agreement on the spot” forms the basis of our objection to the so-called consensus or agreement to reduction. It’s not done anywhere!
READ ALSO: JUST IN: UNILAG Bows To Pressure, Reduces School Fees After Protests
“Even the Management could not agree on the spot to the restoration of the Students’ Union. It was reported that the Vice Chancellor asked that she discusses with the Governing Council and then get back to the students. Why then were the student representatives coerced into accepting a reduction, on the spot, without recourse to the students?
“While we appreciate the spirit of perseverance displayed by the student representatives, to have sat in a meeting for about 4 hours, we condemn such undemocratic character that reeks of inexperience. We advise that such attitude should not repeat itself.
“We have waited this long to see if there would be any student congress or referendum conducted, either virtually or physically. None has been done.
“We want to state categorically, as against what has been spread to the public, that there’s NO CONSENSUS reached yet between the Professor Ogunsola-led Management and the students. Whatever happened was a discussion between the Management and the student leaders and the Management has only given its suggestion which is now under scrutiny by over 60,000 students of the University of Lagos.
“In line with these principles of democracy- feedback and participation; tenets that were missing at and after the meeting, the Students’ Solidarity Group Against Fee Hike will be conducting a REFERENDUM on the fee hike/reduction across levels, departments and faculties THIS WEEK.
“The reports from the referendum shall be made public when completed and it would determine the next line of action in this struggle. This is a task that would need all hands on deck including the student leaders. To join the task force, kindly reach out via WhatsApp to +234 818 782 1406 , 0817 524 9526
“A number of activities will also follow in the coming days. We shall be organizing a symposium/film show that would help us learn from the very famous #FeesMustFall struggle (just 100 percent increase in fees) in South Africa. We call on the generality of students to partake in these programmes.
“We want to restate without any equivocation that our goal remains that fees must fall flat and not to bend sideways.”
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