UNILAG makes U-turn, reverses choice on provision of mattresses by college students

The administration of the College of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has rescinded its choice to compel college students who could also be allotted hostel lodging to deliver their mattresses and different objects to the campus, PREMIUM TIMES can solely report.

Prime officers of the college who spoke solely with this newspaper on Friday morning mentioned although the choice was based mostly on private hygiene of the scholars, “as a accountable establishment, listening to the dissenting opinions and conceding to the favored demand was the perfect factor to do.”

The Dean of the College students’ Affairs of the college, Musa Obalola, a professor, additionally confirmed the most recent growth in a phone interview.

Mr Obalola mentioned the college’s earlier place was based mostly on the well being of the scholars and the college as an entire. He mentioned many mother and father had approached the establishment to counsel the choice of offering private mattresses for his or her wards as an answer to the degenerating unhygienic scenario within the hostels.

“We fumigate often however due to the attitudes of the scholars to the general public amenities, we realised fumigation hasn’t actually helped. So the thought of private provision of mattresses was simply one thing we thought might make the house owners to be accountable sufficient and take care of what they personal,” Mr Obalola mentioned.

Earlier place

In a directive signed by Mr Obalola, the college had introduced that the hostel allocation train would begin on Monday, 23 October.

The memo mentioned profitable candidates can be required to come back with their mattresses coated with macintosh, including that college students ought to pay their charges and register some programs for the session.

Confirming the event, Adejoke Alaga-Ibrahim, the establishment’s spokesperson, informed PREMIUM TIMES Thursday that the college’s choice was solely based mostly on hygiene and well being causes.

Mrs Alaga-Ibraheem mentioned the college was very involved concerning the security of the scholars, and that solely well being security might assure sound instructing and studying.

Mother and father kick

The mother and father of scholars of UNILAG, nonetheless, expressed displeasure over the administration’s directive.

The Chairman of the varsity’s Mother and father’ Discussion board, Olayiwola Aderemi, informed Tribune Newspaper that members solely learn the directive on a platform and that they’re sad concerning the info.

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“Other than the monetary burden this may deliver on mother and father, who’re but to come back out of the massive compulsory charges palaver, we noticed the knowledge as absurd,” Mr Aderemi mentioned.

He mentioned the discussion board had earlier donated 1,000 mattresses to the college two years in the past when it hosted the NUGA video games, and that 500 had been additionally donated earlier when the college skilled the “bedbugs disaster within the hostel”.

“That’s 1,500 mattresses altogether purchased by the Mother and father’ Discussion board within the latest previous,” he famous.

Faculty charges increment

Mr Aderemi additionally complained concerning the college demanding an excessive amount of amidst “harsh financial system.”

He added that it has been tough for a lot of mother and father to satisfy up with the latest increment in numerous compulsory charges.

The college had elevated the payable charges relying on the programs of research and 12 months of admission.

However after protests by the Nationwide Affiliation of Nigerian College students (NANS), the administration reviewed the charges for brand spanking new undergraduate college students from N126,325 to N116,325 for programs with out lab/studio and N176,325 to N166,325 for programs with lab/studio.

The compulsory charges for returning undergraduate college students had been reviewed from N100,750 to N80,750 for programs with out lab/studio; N140,250 to N120,250 for programs with lab/studio; and from N190,250 to N170,250 for medical / pharmacy college students and college students in well being professions.

Means ahead

A senior official of the college who craved anonymity mentioned although the administration had good intention of safeguarding the well being of the scholars, “no Nigerian can be able to take heed to something that might appeal to any type of extra bills.”

“So what the college has finished was to look elsewhere for mattresses and see how we might handle these which might be presently accessible. However what I would like the general public to notice is that this vice-chancellor shouldn’t be the kind to make life tough for anybody,” the official mentioned.

The dean of scholars’ affairs additionally confirmed {that a} assembly between his workplace and the mother and father’ discussion board would maintain the place the official place can be taken.

“Sure, our assembly with the mother and father is simply to guarantee them of our sincerity of objective and to allow them to know that the administration has listening ears. The college is a legacy that we should all guard very properly and Madam Vice-Chancellor is dedicated to doing simply that,” Mr Obalola mentioned.