UNILAG Denies School Fees Hike, Says Extra Charges Only Integrated

By Akemini Udoh

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has refuted claims suggesting that it hiked its school fees for the new session.

In a statement released by Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, Head of UNILAG’s Communication Unit, the university clarified that the slight change in fees payable was due to the integration of approved dues students had previously paid for outside the portal, at the faculty and departmental levels.

“What we have done is in the best interest of the students so that when they apply for NELFund, they get funding that covers every bill that they pay in school through a central system,” Alaga-Ibraheem said. “This will eliminate other forms of payment outside the central system.”

This, according to her, is in compliance with the directive of the Ministry of Education and the National Education Loan Fund (NELFund) to unify all fees into a single central structure.

A breakdown of the school fees shows that TISHIP moved from ₦5,000 to ₦7,500, while some new charges were introduced. These charges include Entrepreneurship – ₦5,000; Portal Maintenance – ₦15,000; Student Insurance Policy – ₦1,250; Student Support Services – ₦1,250; Professional Services – ₦7,500; and GST – ₦5,000.

“It is also important to note that the amounts reflected on the portals differ across programmes based on specific academic requirements. This does not amount to a fee hike but an integration of previously separate, legitimate dues,” she added.

The management called on students and parents to cooperate with them in upholding its legacy of excellence and accountability.

However, recall that the Faculty Presidents-elect had earlier released a joint press statement stating that they would be having a meeting with the Dean of Student Affairs (DSA) to address the alleged hike in school fees.

This came after students had taken to various social media platforms to protest the alleged increase in school fees, as they considered it outrageous and unjust.