The University of Lagos administration has been given a 48-hour deadline by the National Association of Nigerian Students to revoke the institution’s fee increase.
The executive members of the association, namely the National Public Relations Officer, Giwa Temitope; National Vice President, External, Akinteye Afeez; and the Deputy Senate President, Ekundina Elvis, along with other members, expressed their disapproval of the arrest of students who participated in a demonstration against the increase in fees at UNILAG Junction on Wednesday.
According to reports, some individuals participating in the protest, include Adeyeye Olorunfemi, Philip Olatinwo, Aduwo Ayodele, and the Giwa, were afterwards freed by law enforcement authorities in the evening.
Recall that PUNCH METRO reported that the security agents employed the use of tear gas as a means of dispersing the students gathered at UNILAG Junction during the demonstration.
The Lagos State Police Command announced on Tuesday that the students should notify the police about their intended protests in order to ensure appropriate steps are taken. However, the students expressed their opposition to this requirement, asserting that the right to protest is a fundamental aspect of human rights.
Addressing a press conference at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, the student leaders said, “We want to state that the repression that was meted out during our protest on Wednesday against the astronomical increase in fees payable at the University of Lagos is condemnable.”
NANS claims that the decision to protest the fee increase was made after a meeting between students and University of Lagos administration on August 2, 2023, “where the Vice Chancellor assured us that the fee would be reversed and reviewed through a joint body of students and management staff of the university.”
When asked for comment on Wednesday, UNILAG’s Head of Communications Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, stated that the management was not opposed to peaceful protest. She directed the pupils to file their complaints through the proper channels.
“The university is not against lawful and peaceful protests by our students. Our students, who are currently on vacation, are enjoined to channel all grievances through the Dean, Student Affairs, who is officially empowered to interact with students,” Alaga-Ibraheem said while speaking with journalists.
While insisting that the student body would storm UNILAG again, the NANS leaders said, “The management of the University of Lagos is hereby given 48 hours ultimatum to immediately reverse the fees as agreed upon and refund students that must have paid the astronomical fees.”
“Consequently, all students’ union presidents, NANS leadership, and the Nigerian students are hereby put on notice to begin mobilisations. We shall be hitting the UNILAG gates again. The country is bleeding economically and education cannot be traded for illiteracy. It is our fundamental human right to be educated. The police authority must henceforth stop the repression of students and people’s protests. We warn all higher education and Unity Schools never to add a kobo to the fees,” they added.
