LASU: CACOL Backs Falana Over Reduction Of Tuition Fee

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

Kayode Adelowokan, Lagos

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders has thrown its weight behind the plea for the reduction of the Lagos State University (LASU) tuition fee.

Gov. Fashola of Lagos state, South-West Nigeria

Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights lawyer made this plea to Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, in a statement on Sunday.

The Coalition Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, who faulted the hiked tuition, decried the inhumanity of the State government to the Lagosians.

Adeniran also blamed that the government has remained adamant in the form of policies, which he described as ‘anti-poor policies’.

In his word, “We have said it times without number that the anti-poor policies of the Lagos State government is having a bad effect on an average Lagosian. Whatever warranted the hike in the tuition fees of Lagos State University is not tenable. Every policy of government must be given human face. The minimum wage of a Nigerian worker is a paltry N18, 000.00 whereas many Nigerians, by extension Lagosians, are living below $1 per day. How many of these people can afford to raise a tuition of N250, 000.00?

“It is so unfortunate that education is only for the children of rich in Nigeria while the unfortunate ones from poor families will have to stay outside no matter how intelligent they are. Many of our present leaders benefitted from the free education policies of the past leaders, some of them even benefited from scholarships to study abroad.

“It is man inhumanity to man to take such opportunity beyond the reach of the indigent students. The truth remains that LASU is a government university run by tax payers’ money, hence it should serve the children of the have-nots.”

Also, the anti-corruption crusader stressed that Lagos State government is encouraging corruption by hiking its university’s tuition fee.

“Lagos State should realize that many anti-poor policies of the government have driven many civil servants into looting. What the Lagos government is simply telling the civil servants who have their wards in LASU is that, they have to steal from government’s coffers to send their children to school if their salaries could not afford it. One doesn’t need to wonder why we have a lot of looters in civil service after all, “Adeniran opined.

Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Comrade Debo Adeniran, however urged the Lagos State government to review the tuition fees, as a matter of urgency, for the sake of the indigent students.