The police command in Lagos has deployed its men to the University of Lagos, UNILAG, to maintain law and order as students express dissatisfaction with an increase in their school fees.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the deployment on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
He stated that the policemen were deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order.
“The policemen were only posted to the campus to maintain peace 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 disclosed that the students and the school authorities were discussing the increase in fees and working together to ensure that both parties would be satisfied at the end.
Credible News reports that the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council, NANS JCC, Lagos State Chapter, suspended its planned protest against increase in UNILAG school fees due to intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr Idowu Owohunwa.
Hundeyin disclosed that the commissioner met with the students’ leaders over the planned protest and assured them that he would meet with the university’s vice-chancellor to discuss their grievances.
“One of the students, name withheld, in the delegation who is an indigent student, was given a scholarship by the CP throughout his university education.
“Based on this and others, the students’ leaders agreed to suspend the protest”, he said.
Meanwhile, authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, have adjusted the fees payable by students.
A statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju indicated that fresh students in the Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities would pay N151, 200 while their returning counterparts would pay N89, 200.
The statement also disclosed that new students in the Faculties of Technology and Science would pay N163, 200 while returning students would pay N101, 200.
It added that fresh students in the Faculties of the College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy would pay N190, 200 while the old students would pay N128, 200 respectively.
“The decision was taken by the Senate of the university at its emergency meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
“The management therefore, wishes the students resounding success in their academic programmes”, he said.
