LAUTECH Reverses N500 Daily Late Registration Fee After Student Protests

 

Nigerian University LAUTECH Reverses N500 Daily Late Registration Fee After Student Protests

Students have welcomed the reversal of the daily penalty, and they continue to demand broader reforms to make the institution more affordable.

The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has ordered the immediate suspension of the ₦500 daily late registration fee imposed on students.

 

The directive was issued by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Razaq Olatunde, following a report by SaharaReporters that highlighted student protests against the fee, which they described as unfair and oppressive.

 

Students have welcomed the reversal of the daily penalty, and they continue to demand broader reforms to make the institution more affordable.

SaharaReporters gathered that the late registration fee was introduced on May 10, with students being charged ₦500 for each day of delayed registration.

 

The policy drew widespread criticism from students, who argued that it added to their financial burden, especially in the wake of a recent tuition hike.

 

However, according to a message from Lekan Fadeyi, the Public and Alumni Relations Unit head of the institution, obtained by SaharaReporters, the late registration fee has been reversed.

 

“Vice Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Professor Razaq Olatunde, has ordered reversal of the N500 daily surcharge on students for late registration,” the memo read.

 

“Ordering immediate reversal of the payment, Professor Kaliu said the payment should be stopped forthwith.”

 

In November 2024, SaharaReporters reported that LAUTECH had increased tuition fees for undergraduate students for the 2024/2025 academic session. According to a notice issued by the school authorities, the new fees now range from ₦372,000 to ₦782,000, depending on a student’s faculty and state of origin.

 

“LAUTECH increases tuition fees for 2024/2025 fresh students, ranges from 372k to 782k, depending on faculties and state of origin,” a Facebook user who shared the document wrote.

 

A student of the university who confirmed the development to SaharaReporters recalled that students previously paid fees ranging from ₦261,000 to ₦283,000.

 

The student explained that the management had now fixed new fees at ₦372,000 to ₦782,000, stating that students studying Medicine were now required to pay ₦782,000.

 

“Our fees in the 2023/2024 session ranged from ₦261,000 to ₦283,000, but the management has now fixed new fees at ₦372,000 to ₦782,000 for the 2024/25 session,” the student said.

 

“The students studying Medicine are now to pay ₦782,000,” the student added.

 

Before this most recent and alarming increment, the Oyo State government had announced a 25 percent reduction in LAUTECH tuition. Governor Seyi Makinde made this known in 2021 while visiting the students of the institution.

 

Makinde said the reduction was made even though LAUTECH’s tuition was already the lowest in southwest Nigeria.Nigerian fashion