Fashola approves 60% reduction in LASU school fees .

LAGOS State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday, approved a reduction in the school fees charged by the Lagos State University (LASU) authorities by 60 per cent, as part of measures to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the institution.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Fatai Olukoga, made this known at a press conference, which he addressed on Wednesday.

Olukoga, flanked by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Aderemi Ibirogba; Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Raji and the Special Adviser on Media, Mr Hakeem Bello, said the state executive council had ordered the university governing council to implement 34 to 60 per cent school fees reduction across board without delay.

However,  president of the institution’s Student’s Union, Mr Yusuf Temitope, vehemently kicked against the decision of the government to slash the school fees, saying such decision was not acceptable to the entire students.

Olukoga, while addressing newsmen, said the government decided to reduce the fees after extensive deliberation on the report of the ad hoc committee.

He disclosed that the government had approved the recommendation of the committee that the fees and charges payable by students for incidental services and materials were amendable to a downward review for two main reasons.

“Some of the fees component have been applied to students across all levels when, in fact, they can be justifiably limited to students at a particular level only and that some of the charges included can still be reduced on compassionate grounds,” he noted.

Olukoga said it was on the basis of these principles that the government agreed that “with the subsidised tuition fees and appropriate moderation of the incidental fees, a reduction ranging from 34 per cent to 60 per cent is possible across the different faculties and courses.”

According to him, “pursuant to its mandate, the university governing council will issue details of what is now payable by students in each department and deal with all other management matters of the university. All individuals and groups within the community are advised to relate to the university council accordingly.”

The special adviser said the approval of reduced fees for students in the institution notwithstanding, the government would retain and continue with its enhanced scholarship and bursary provisions.

Olukoga added that the research fund sponsored by the government would also be maintained to foster a culture of research and innovation in the institution.

The students’ leader, in a telephone chat with the Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday, however, said the union was not satisfied with the government’s decision.

He said he would address a press conference today to make the stand of the student body known to the public.