According to a statement issued by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) UNILAG branch, the new tuition fees were disclosed during a meeting between the Vice-Chancellor and representatives of the three non-academic staff unions.
Under the new fee structure, undergraduate students without lab and studio use will pay N100,750, while those with lab use will pay N140,250. Students in the College of Medicine will have to pay N190,250.
At the meeting, an SSANU representative, Rasaki Yusuf, requested a rebate for staff members with children studying at the university. However, the Vice-Chancellor explained that the new charges were set nationally and could not be modified for specific student categories.
As a solution, the Vice-Chancellor, Ogunsola, offered the option of staff members paying in instalments but with the condition to pay up one month before final exams.
Other issues were raised during the meeting, including the availability of hostel accommodation for staff wards. The Vice-Chancellor assured that a percentage of accommodation spaces would be reserved for their wards, but it was not guaranteed that all staff children would secure hostel spaces.
Furthermore, during the meeting, the staff unions presented a list of demands, including overtime, shift allowance, hazard allowance implementation, staff medical screening, stagnation, and the status of UNILAG International School tutors, among others. The outcome and resolutions on these demands are yet to be determined.
The decision to increase tuition fees has raised concerns among students and staff members, and the university management is expected to face further discussions and possibly protests over the new fee structure.