UNILAG will increase charges as vice-chancellor laments ‘over N150 million’ month-to-month electrical energy invoice

Forward of the 2023/2024 tutorial calendar 12 months, the administration of the College of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has introduced new charges payable by each the brand new undergraduate and returning college students.

The brand new payment regime, which ranges between N120,750 and N240,250 relying on the programs of examine and ranges, was introduced on Friday in an announcement issued by the college administration, a duplicate of which was made obtainable to PREMIUM TIMES by the Head of the Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem.

However the college mentioned it has measures in place to help “real indigent” college students, noting that it has knowledge of the involved college students and would “proceed to make provision for his or her survival by means of these measures.”

The event is coming at a time Nigerians are lamenting the subsidy elimination on petroleum product and the attendant consequence of accelerating pump costs.

However the college’s Vice-Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, has mentioned the method of introduction of the brand new charges predated the subsidy elimination, saying the college had commenced engagement with related stakeholders together with college students and fogeys since January.

Mrs Ogunsola, a professor of Medical Microbiology, instructed PREMIUM TIMES in a phone interview that the outdated charges regime is now not sustainable, noting that the college has persistently recorded deficits of about N1 billion yearly.

She mentioned when college students are on campus the college pays as excessive as about N160 million on a month-to-month foundation to an influence distribution firm, “other than the large value we incur on diesel, water, janitorial companies, amongst others.”

The college had on Wednesday held a gathering with involved events on the campus together with workers unions, the place the matter was appraised.

Till the most recent announcement, returning undergraduate college students on the campus had been between N26,000 and about N76,000, relying on the programs of examine and the extent of the scholars.

Like UNILAG like UNIBEN, UNIMAID, others

Earlier within the 12 months, different tertiary establishments in Nigeria together with College of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State; College of Abuja (UNIABUJA), and College of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) had elevated their charges by excessive percentages.

As an example, at UNIMAID, medical college students pay totally different charges based mostly on their ranges. The ultimate-year college students pay the best payment of N256,000 whereas the bottom payment payable by the medical college students is N112,000 for college kids of the Division of Physiotherapy.

In truth, on the College of Abuja, following the announcement of the payment improve on 1 Might, some scholar leaders who have been accused of mobilising college students for protests have been rusticated.

College students of UNIBEN additionally complained bitterly over what they described as an imposition of the brand new payment regime by the administration of the brand new vice-chancellor, Lillian Salami.

UNILAG’s new charges breakdown

In response to the assertion issued by UNILAG, the necessary expenses for brand spanking new undergraduate college students point out that the college has not launched a payment.

Nonetheless, all recent college students who examine programs with out the usage of laboratories and studios pays a flat fee of N156,325, whereas their counterparts who could be required to utilize laboratories or studios pays N206,325.

The brand new charges are inclusive of N10,000 for toxicology checks and annual utility expenses of N20,000.

For returning college students, who’re college students from 200 stage to closing 12 months lessons, the costs vary between N120,750 and N170,250 relying on whether or not the programs being studied require the usage of laboratories and studios or not.

Nonetheless, for returning medical college students, payable charges vary between N210,250 and N240,250. The latter payment additionally consists of the necessary N20,000 utility payment and the N30,000 charged for convocation ceremonies.

The college used to cost N25,000 for convocation prior to now.

In response to the assertion, the objects to be paid for by the scholars embody registration, identification playing cards, examination, library companies, info know-how and entrepreneurship, medical companies, sports activities, and endowment fund, amongst others.

With out charges UNILAG will die -VC

The UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Mrs Ogunsola, mentioned the burden of working the schools in Nigeria was changing into insufferable and that except the monetary burden is shared, there could possibly be no college to run once more.

She mentioned regardless of the federal government paying the college’s staff’ salaries, funds at present generated in a 12 months couldn’t run the college efficiently for a month.

She mentioned for nearly twenty years the college had not elevated its charges, and that following the excessive inflation in Nigeria, the affordable factor to do maintain the establishment was to introduce “modest charges.”

“The reality is that the costs had been going up for fairly a while however we stored managing regardless of the inflation. And actually within the final three years or thereabouts, we’ve got been having deficits of about N1 billion yearly. And we’ve got been reducing down our prices to present high quality training. However we will’t reside on philanthropism.

“Our expenditure has continued to outstrip our revenue. Our roles as lecturers shouldn’t be to be going round on easy methods to become profitable however we’re imagined to be considering, doing analysis, and fascinating in severe neighborhood companies. We’re dropping lecturers per second as a result of the college system doesn’t work.”

Mrs Ogunsola mentioned the college is pauperised, and that the engagement with the scholars, mother and father, and different stakeholders on the brand new charges had commenced in January.

Measures for indigent college students

Mrs Ogunsola defined that the college has continued to help its indigent college students and that the follow would proceed.

READ ALSO: 2023 Admissions: UNILAG publicizes date for post-UTME screening

In response to her, a few of the programmes put in place to assist indigent college students embody, “undertake a scholar venture,” “work-study programme,” and “expertise hunt,” amongst others.

“This follow is just not new and we’re dedicated to enhancing it in order that no one is left behind. However the actuality is that issues are very troublesome and we can not afford to do nothing,” the vice-chancellor mentioned.