The police in Lagos have deployed its operatives to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) following the resumption of the fee hike protest at the institution.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s PRO, on Wednesday, said the move was to maintain law and order as students express dissatisfaction with an increase in their fees.
In July, the federal university announced an upward review in its fees meant to take effect from September 1.
Students at UNILAG have indicated that they intend to continue protesting until their tuition is returned to its original amount.
Why are the police standing like they are the victims?😅
Zlatan| Banky W| Instablog| Naira Marley| Mohbad| Tinubu| Lagos| Pere| Atiku| ilorin|… pic.twitter.com/kQqeGGMX2M
— Alákòwé (@alakowee) September 13, 2023
This put the sessional mandatory charges for new undergraduate students at ₦126,325 for courses without a lab/studio and ₦176,325 for one academic session for courses that use a laboratory or studio.
The sessional mandatory charges for returning students were put at ₦100,750 for courses without labs and studios while that of courses with access to labs and studios were fixed at ₦140,250.
UNILAG also said the approved charge for all medical students of the institution is ₦190,250.
Students at the varsity took to the campus in protest on September 6 but were dispersed by armed police.
On Wednesday, the students staged a comeback protest demanding a reversal of the fee hike.
Hundeyin said the state police’s deployment of its operatives will prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“They are not meant to restrict movement in and out of the school. People are going in and coming out freely,” he said.
Hundeyin said the students and the school authorities are in discussion to reach a middle ground on the matter.
An initial protest on the hike was to happen on August 8 in UNILAG but the students had backed down after police intervention.
Hundeyin said Idowu Owohunwa, the commissioner of police, met with the student leaders and assured them that he would meet with the university’s vice-chancellor to discuss their grievances.
