UI raises hostel accommodation fee from N14, 000 to N30, 000

UI has shot up the hostel accommodation fee from N14, 000 to N30, 000 for main campus, and N40, 000 for the College of Medicine, taking effect from the 2017/2018 session.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka explained that the increase in price was because the institution was currently spending about N100 million every year over what was collected in running the hostels. This came as UI sent out the students of the College of Medicine yesterday from their halls of residence over their protest against the increase in professional training and hostel accommodation fees.

Olayinka said that while the students were presently paying N14, 000 per bed-space, the partial economic rate per bed-space as at 2012 survey conducted by the institution was put at N59,650 per session.

Arranging a meeting for tomorrow with parents, guardians and students to address the development, the UI Senate revealed yesterday that it had also approved increment in chargeable fees for laboratory and studio (Arts (N5,000) maintenance fees; fees for professional health training (non-clinical (N75,000) and clinical N100,000); Pharmacy practice experience levy (N5,000), and Science laboratory levy (N7,500); Faculties of Agriculture (N5,000 to N7,500), and Renewable Natural Resources upward review of the Practical Year levy (N15,000 to N17,500) for those in practical year while other students are to pay the old levy; items upward review of access fee for undergraduates (from N2,000 to N2,500) for improve internet access on campus.

In amending the fees, the Vice Chancellor urged the public to note that it is only the increase in accommodation fees that cuts across students who desire to stay in the halls of residence. He said:

“Residency in the halls of residence is optional, and only about 30 per cent of our students can find accommodation in the halls of residence.

It is also important to note that the Federal Government, many years back, had stopped providing funds for the running of the halls. As a result, the university spends about N100 million over what is collected as accommodation fees, for the running of the halls.”

Meanwhile, before they decided to not agree with the increment ranging from N75,000 to N100,000 per student and accommodation fee hiked to N40,000, the medical students were forced out of their Alexander Brown Hall, UCH. The Registrar, Olujinmi Olukoya, said in a statement that the Academic Board of the College of Medicine considered the possible security threat that the students’ agitation against the new fees would pose and recommended the hostel’s closure.