Protest at UNILAG: Students Advocate for Affordable Tuition Fees

By Nnachetam Calista Chinonye

On the 21st of July, 2023, the administration of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, implemented an increment on the students by raising the tuition fees. Their reason being the current economic conditions of the country. 
The students, in association with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), organized a peaceful demonstration on the 6th of September to express their dissatisfaction and demand a reconsideration of the decision after the first one that happened the week before was disrupted by security operatives who released tear gas and rubber bullets, and also arrested three protesters. This only validated that the rights to engage in peaceful protests, which is under the freedom of assembly and freedom of expression clauses in the constitution, is uncertain. Students were bemused by the number of policemen deployed to quash a peaceful protest especially when those same forces are absent in the face of real danger.
There is also the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that students signed against protests which they have adhered to since 2016. For it to be broken spoke volumes about how much the hiked fees would affect them.

During the protest, students gathered on the streets, holding placards, and chanting slogans to make their voices heard. This time, they were accompanied by security operatives of the Nigerian Police Force as well as men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, who barricaded the school gate as heavy security checks were conducted to prevent intruders from entering the school premises. The protest not only gained attention within the walls of the university, but also on social media, where others also opposed the tuition hike. They all agreed that the increment would make education inaccessible to many deserving students, limiting their chances of obtaining a degree and pursuing their dreams.
Some students who spoke with newsmen complained that there was a breach of trust between the school authorities and the students and talked about the need for transparency and dialogue between both parties. 

Students also expressed their desire for a more inclusive decision-making process where their suggestions and concern would be taken into account, and called for open forums and discussions to address the issue and find alternative solutions that will not 
bother them financially.

The Federal Government was also called upon to invest the proceeds from the subsidy removal in education rather than allow many increment in fees.
This demonstration garnered support from various stakeholders, including faculty members, alumni, and civil society organizations. The media also covered the protest, bringing further attention to the issue and putting pressure on the university administration to reconsider their decision.

Thursday, September 14: The administratives of UNILAG responded to the concerns raised by students and representatives of NANS by agreeing to reduce the hiked fees of the institution. Some of the fees reduced include: 
Obligatory fees
Utility fees
Convocation fees
Hostel fees- 43,000 naira was reduced from the hostel fee which was 90,000 naira, for public hostels.

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