Reversal in Tuition Fees: Lagos refunds N209m to LASU students

The Lagos State Government, has refunded N209 million to the students of the Lagos State University, LASU, following the reversal of the school fees by the state government.

The refund is the money earlier paid in excess by the students in the wake of the hike in the tuition fees before the reversal as directed by the state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola last year. The N209 million is the first tranche of refund.

It will be recalled that Fashola, had on August 7, 2014, during the 19th Convocation of the university, announced a reversal of the school’s tuition fees from as high as N348, 750 to the old rate of N25,000.

On behalf of the state government, some of the cheques were presented to beneficiaries, yesterday, at the LASU Main Auditorium, Ojo, Lagos, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga.

The recipients were 100 level  and 200 level direct entry students, while the  remaining presentation  is scheduled to be made during the second tranche of the refund.

Speaking at the event, Olukoga said: “This symbolic occasion is a further demonstration of the desire of our administration in Lagos State to make education affordable to the children of the poor.

“When Governor Fashola made the pronouncement during the 19th Convocation of the University, slashing LASU school fees to N25, 000, mischief makers from the opposition party regarded the kind and genuine gesture of the state government as a political statement that will not see the light of the day.

“But today, that pronouncement has become a reality. Our government is not deceitful as theirs. We are seriously committed to ensuring the well-being of our people in all spheres of human endeavour.

“For the records, the present school fees of LASU is the least in the country, and we are irrevocably committed to its continued infrastructural growth and development regardless of the abysmally low fees.”