UNILAG Increases Fees as Vice-Chancellor Laments 'Over N150 Million' Monthly Electricity Bill

 

In preparation for the 2023/2024 academic calendar year, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has announced new fees for both new undergraduate and returning students. The fee structure, ranging from N120,750 to N240,250, depends on the courses of study and academic levels. The announcement was made in a statement released by the university management, as reported by the Head of the Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem.

The university clarified that measures are in place to assist "genuine indigent" students, and it will continue to provide support for their well-being through these measures.

The decision to increase fees comes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with the removal of subsidies on petroleum products, resulting in higher fuel prices. However, UNILAG's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, asserts that the process of introducing the new fees began before the subsidy removal, and that the university has been engaging with relevant stakeholders, including students and parents, since January.

Professor Ogunsola explains that the old fee structure is no longer sustainable, with the university consistently experiencing annual deficits of about N1 billion. Moreover, when students are on campus, the university incurs substantial costs, including over N160 million monthly on electricity alone, in addition to expenses for diesel, water, janitorial services, among others.

Recently, other tertiary institutions in Nigeria, such as the University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), and University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), also increased their fees by significant percentages.

UNILAG's new fees breakdown reveals that mandatory charges for new undergraduate students indicate that the university has not introduced any new fees. However, all fresh students studying courses without laboratory or studio usage will pay a flat rate of N156,325, while those requiring laboratory or studio facilities will pay N206,325. These fees include N10,000 for toxicology tests and an annual utility charge of N20,000.

For returning students from 200 level to final year classes, the charges range between N120,750 and N170,250, depending on whether laboratory or studio facilities are required for their courses. For returning medical students, the fees range between N210,250 and N240,250, which includes the mandatory N20,000 utility fee and N30,000 for convocation ceremonies.

The university's Vice-Chancellor emphasizes that the financial burden of running universities in Nigeria has become unbearable, and without sharing this burden, universities may face significant challenges. She notes that despite the government paying workers' salaries, the funds generated in a year are insufficient to sustain the university for even a month. The decision to introduce "modest fees" after almost two decades without an increase aims to ensure the institution's sustainability.

Mrs Ogunsola assures that the university will continue to support its indigent students, acknowledging that it is a long-standing practice that will be further enhanced to ensure no student is left behind. However, she highlights the financial difficulties faced by the university and the need to find a sustainable solution to provide quality education while addressing the deficit.