The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara, the Chairman of its House Committee on Education, to invite all the concerned stakeholders and report back within a week as some Lagos parents protested over the increase in the boarding fees of the state’s model colleges.
This directive came after Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker, met with the protesters at the Assembly gate.
Fusion Chronicles gathered that the fees were increased from N35,000 to N100,000 for the 2024/2025 session which commenced on September 15, 2024.
Obasa stated on Monday that he had to intervene when he heard the crowd chanting protest songs at the entrance to the Assembly, advising the parents to remain calm while he assured them that the matter would be addressed.
However, Hon. Sangodara (Surulere II) informed the House that the committee had already engaged the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders.
Hon. Shabi Adekola (Lagos Mainland II) on the other hand, also explained that during a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Education and others, it was agreed that the parents should continue paying N35,000 pending further review of the fees.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa Constituency II) noted that the increment was primarily related to students’ feeding costs. He, however, urged the government to create ways to relieve the financial burden on parents and offer assistance where necessary.
Hon. Bonu Solomon (Badagry I), while contributing added that parents had raised concerns that students unable to pay the new fee were not allowed to purchase food within the school premises adding that this had further complicated the situation.
The House is expected to await the report from the education committee before taking further steps.
