N348,000 fee: LASU students stone Fashola’s deputy, vandalise property

ANGRY students of the Lagos State University (LASU), protesting the recent increment in their  school fees from N25,000 to N348,750 by Governor Babatunde Fashola, yesterday unleashed their anger on the convoy of the Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, pelting her with stones.
Fashola had increased tuition fees by 725 per cent in the university.

With the new arrangement, students in the Departments of Arts/Education will pay N193,750 each;  Social and Management Science, N223,750; Communication/Transport, N238,750; Law, N248,750; Science/Engineering, N298,750 and Medicine N348,750.

The students, who attempted to force their way through the gate leading to the Governor’s Office in Alausa, were later overpowered by security aides attached to Fashola, who locked up all the entrances.

Following the refusal to let them in, they resorted to stoning Mrs. Adefulire-Orelope's convoy.

Enraged by the development, the students invaded the gate with their leafy clubs, pelting it and any objects within reach before storming the House of Assembly where they overpowered the security men.

There was, however, a mild drama inside when security agents again prevented all but executive members of the Students Union Government (SUG) from gaining access to the hallowed chambers where the increment in school fee was being discussed by the lawmakers.

The more than 200 students vented their anger on everything within reach, destroying the scanners and other security devices installed at the entrance.

They also shattered the windscreen of a car.

The students declared that they would make the state ungovernable unless the government stops the payment of the fees, saying that the government must  increase budgetary allocations to the school in line with the recommendation of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) of 26 per cent of total budget. 

They are also clamouring for a massive investment in infrastructural development and democratisation of the running of the university.

To them, Fashola's action contradicts his utterances during his inauguration for a second term on May 29, 2011, when he vowed to make education available to the poor masses in line with the vision of the late sage and Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

During the fracas, the students hijacked two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses and beat one of the drivers  to coma.

controversial school fees
•Arts/Education                             N193,750
•Social/Management Science         N223,750
•Communication/Transport            N238,750
•Law                                              N248,750
•Science/Engineering                    N298,750
•Medicine                                      N348,750
Source