The Lagos State Government could have chosen the convenient and easy route to the LASU problem by merely continuing with the status quo. That is, it could have continued with the populist system of charging students a paltry N25,000 yearly as school fee.
The decision did not go down well with a lot of students and even lecturers, even though the government stated unequivocally that the decision would not affect those already studying at LASU.
ASUU, has been threatening fire and brimstone over LASU fees. Speaking a few days ago at the University of Ibadan where Education Rights Campaign organised a symposium, ASUU National President Nasir Faggae declared that the union would not accept the new school fees, saying that the government should establish universities for knowledge acquisition, and not profit making. Ever since the declaration, some activists like Dr Ademola Aremu, the ASUU National treasurer, have been beating the war drum against the state government.
According to the ASUU, the new school fees have caused a reduction in the student population which could, in turn, affect the number of courses available.
LASU should benefit from its location in Nigeria’s commercial centre of Lagos to engage in research for companies. Its medical microbiology department, for instance, can conduct rewarding research for companies like Nigerian Breweries and Guinness. Its School of Management and College of Engineering can earn considerable income by working for several local and multinational firms.
ASUU must come to terms with the fact that the time for cheap populism is over. LASU needs all the money it can generate to become a respectable institution. It must produce credible certificates, and not fanciful degrees not worth the paper on which they are written.
