LASU Students Lock Horns With Fashola Over Increased Fees

LASUSU President, Nurudeen Yusuf, told pressmen at a briefing on Thursday that the decision to ignore Governor Babatunde Fashola's directive was agreed upon by all students of the institution.

"The students had unanimously agreed not to pay the increased fee, as they resume a new session, next week until a reduction is made,” Yusuf said.

“The N350, 000 charged as tuition fee for a year without feeding and accommodation is more expensive than in some private universities which charge N450, 000 a year with feeding and accommodation,” Yusuf said.

The union leader also said the union had formally sought a reduction in the fees to Governor Fashola who requested a proposal from them which they subsequently presented on April 24.

In the proposal, Yusuf said the students, after a general meeting on April 7, proposed a new tuition fee of N46, 500 for returning students while freshers would pay N65,500.

The proposal also included a list of 86 students who dropped out of the institution because they could not pay the new fees.

However, they are yet to hear anything following the proposal and Yusuf warns that the students will opt for drastic actions if their demands are left unmet.

“Unfortunately, we had not received any response from the government since then and we had further written another letter to the governor last week as a reminder,” he said.

“The dreams of thousands of youths out there have been shattered by the fee hike and one day, they will come back asking for their right."

It will be recalled that Governor Fashola had last month said the Lagos state government would assist students who cannot pay the new fees.