The students’ union government of the Lagos State Polytechnic,LASPOTECH, has kicked against the hike in the cost of certificate and other ancillary fee from N5,000 to N30,000 by the governing council of the institution.

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In a release made available to Freelanews and co-signed by the president and PRO of LASPOSUG 23, Comr. Surakat Muftaudeen and Comr. Hassan Abiodun, respectively, the union stated that there is no justification for such outrageous increment at this time.

“The students’ union government of Lagos State Polytechnic in it responsibility to promote, protect and preserve the interest of the
polytechnic students and ensure their right is not trampled upon by, either internal or external entity. Has made a significant decision to
prioritize accessibility and affordability by opting against an increment of certificate and other Ancillary fee for its students.

“The Union Body firmly believes that, after rigorous academic exercise, certificate should be accessible to all students without financial barriers hindering the furtherance of their career. The decision to disagree, reject and disapprove the humongous increment in the certificate fee from N5,000 to N30,000 by the Governing council of the Polytechnic, was made by the S.U.G after careful consideration of various factors, including the current economic climate and the financial constraints faced by the students.

“We (SUG), on this background, inform our fellow students that we remain committed and dedicated to this mission to making a positive
impact while we on the same vein urge them to maintain composure,” the statement stated.

This new development may not be unconnected with the rumoured need to drive fund in order to sustain running the polytechnic till it is finally rested as the school now enjoys a new status of university.

The Lagos special adviser on education, Barr. Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed this in a post sometimes in 2021.

The main entrance of the institution before renovation to reflect the university status currently ongoing

“In order to improve quality assurance and to remove the dichotomy in employability of polytechnic graduates vis-a vis their counterpart in the university, Lagos State Polytechnic is now Lagos State University of Science and Technology, while Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education are now Lagos State University of Education,” Barr Wahab wrote.

According to a source, it was claimed that the polytechnic administration has allegedly been deprived of needed funds as government now focuses more on finalising its plans upgrading the school completely, while allegations of lack of transparency and accountability in high places management are being inferred in some other quarters.

A faculty member, who didn’t want his name mentioned, believed the increment may be due to the need to sustain an institution, which has been in existence since 1977.

“The reason to drive IGR for the sustainability of the legacy institution could be responsible. I don’t really know, but that may not be unconnected.

“Personally, as much as I think N30,000 may be much for parents and guardians at the moment, I also believe that N5,000 is just too meagre, using the same yardstick of ‘financial climate’ that the students’ body used. So, I think there could be compromise here and there.

“Finally, the challenges of Nigeria seems to be replicated in every sphere of our lives. Our governance style favours the minority, even when we claim to be protecting the majority. No meaningful tertiary institution relies on school fees to run a 21st century tertiary education. No government politicise tertiary education,” he said.

He stated that tertiary education is huge, expensive and capital intensive across the world.

“But you see, Nigerian leaders across boards even in the universities are not creative; most of whom are political appointees.

“Few people are diverting petroleum products and claiming subsidies on the product they did not supply. Few people are stealing the crude and the security agents are conniving. And to deal with these few will amount to withdrawing the benefit to the larger number.

“What’s the connection with the issue at hand?

“Yes, few people mismanaged the resources and goodwill of that institution. Instead of making the leaders to be accountable for their actions and inactions, they are increasing fees for the larger population; ‘tenibaje okan mi’ kind of economic policy.

“Whose interest are they protecting?” he asked.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.