LASU students to get N69m refund

The Lagos State University, Ojo, says it will refund over N69m to its students who paid tuition fees for the 2013/2014 academic session.
This is coming three weeks after the Lagos State Government authorised a reduction of between 34 and 60 per cent in tuition paid in the university.
The state government in 2011 jerked up tuition in the university from N25, 000 to N198, 000 for humanities and education students, while medical students paid N350, 000.
The action attracted severe criticisms and protests from civil society groups and the students, resulting in the occasional closure of the school.
But in a statement on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Kayode Sutton, said the decision of the state government to reduce the tuition fees prompted the initiative to refund the excess sum to the students.
The statement added, “During consideration, the management of the university noted the directive of the Governing Council that all payments in excess of the new approved school fees regime should be refunded to students.
“In compliance with this directive, the Bursary Department is to commence the compilation of the list of affected students, the amount involved and to proffer an appropriate mode of refund.
“After an extensive deliberation on the refund, the university authorities concluded that refunds will be made to students by cheques and the comprehensive list of the beneficiaries, the amount to be refunded to each student will be uploaded onto the university website, while roster for the distribution of the cheques to beneficiaries will be made available in due course.”
                             
In the new fee regime, for instance, a final year student in the Arts Department is to pay N76, 750 (49.3 per cent reduction) while a 200 level Engineering and Medical (Direct Entry) student is to pay N158, 250 (representing a 36.4 per cent reduction).