That unrealistic LASU fees hike



Governor Fashola



Disapprovals and indignations have greeted the recent hike in school fees for students of Lagos State University (LASU). Nevertheless, the Babatunde Raji Fashola government has shown no indication it is ready to shift grounds on this ill-advised policy. Governor Fashola is depopularising education and thus making it exclusive for the children of the rich. Hiking fees from N25, 000 to between N195,000 and N350,000 per session for fresh students smacks of insensitivity of the highest order. With the existence of diverse regimes of taxes which already are seen as huge burdens to Lagosians, it is unwise for a government that is reluctant to implement a meagre N18, 000 minimum wage to even contemplate a 750 percent hike in school fees. This indeed is an expensive joke; a caricature of its highest magnitude.

One can’t help but wonder if government now wakes up from its slumber and announces a new policy without carrying out an elaborate assessment of its impact on the society? Lagosians would like to know the background and antecedents of the members of the Visitation Panel that recommended these new fees. Is their decision inclined towards self-seeking; a reversal of the gains of liberalised education policy for which Lagos was known with an aristocratic one?

Mark Zuckerberg: A mirror for Nigerian youths

PAUL ARHEWE 23/03/2011 00:39:00

Recently Forbes International released the list of world most richest people, of which two Nigerians AlikoDangote and Mike Adenuga emerged the 51st and 595th respectively। One of the profiles of these wealthy personalities that fascinate me most is that of Mark Zuckerberg, the youngest of these billionaires, occupying the 52nd position next to Dangote with a fortune of $13।5 billion। It may surprise many of us who don’t know that 26-year-old Zuckerberg, is the founder and CEO of the popular social–networking site, Facebook, that both old and young people are passionate about.