The Students Solidarity Group Against Fee Hike (SSGAFH) has announced that it will embark on a public protest against the recent fee hike by the management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
In a statement issued by the group’s spokespersons, Tosin Solanke and Abayomi Godwin, the SSGAFH said the protest would take place on September 6, 2023, and would involve students, parents, civil society organizations, and informal workers.
The group said it had to take this action because the fee hike was “anti-poor” and “economically inconsiderate.” The new fees range from N19,000 to N190,250 for medical students, and N140,250 for students in laboratory and studio-based courses.
The group said it had ‘ engaged in a series of actions to enlighten members of the public of the dangers that this anti-poor policy portends for the generality of the people” .
“Our argument remains that the responsibility of funding public education can not be shifted to poor students and their parents even in a draining economy such as this. We also maintain that the decision taken by the UNILAG management, supervised by their employers, remains authoritarian and economically inconsiderate.”
“It is also important to state that after engaging in a discussion, and for over four weeks, the UNILAG Management has failed in its promise to reconvene the meeting with the student delegation.”
“Our lecturers, some of whom are postgraduate students, including those who are sponsors (parents/guardians) to many students, would not be able to afford these fees.”
The SSGAFH said the protest would be “comprehensive and total” until the fees are reverted.
