Fees hike: UNILAG students suspend planned protest after police intervention

The National Association of Nigerian Students’ Joint Campus Council (NANS JCC) says it has suspended its planned protest over the hike in school fees by the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Last month, UNILAG announced an adjustment in the obligatory fees for both returning and new students.

The institution said the hike, which is to take effect from September 1, became necessary to “cushion harsh economic realities and meet its obligation to its students, staff, and municipal service providers”.

The students’ council had planned on embarking on a protest.

But in a statement on Tuesday, Alimi Idris and Abdulrazak Yusuf, chairman and secretary of the student association, addressed the hike in tuition.

The student leaders said the suspension of the protest was due to the intervention of Idowu Owohunwa, the commissioner of police.

They commended the commissioner and asked him to ensure the students’ grievances were communicated to the relevant authorities.

SEE ALSO: UNILAG Fee Hike: Lagos CP Intervenes in Students' Planned Protest

Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson, said the commissioner met with the student leaders on Monday.

Hundeyin said the students planned to protest on Tuesday but were invited by the commissioner for discussion to find a solution.

He said the commissioner assured the students of a meeting with the university’s vice-chancellor to discuss their grievances.

Hundeyin said a police-student relations committee (PSRC) was set up to address issues that might arise from the meeting in the future.

“One of the students in the delegation, who is an indigent student, was given a scholarship by the CP throughout his university education,” he said.

“Based on this and others, the student leaders agreed to suspend the protest. They promised to maintain peace within the campus.”

Source: The Cable