It was jubilation galore at the 19th convocation ceremony of the Lagos State University (LASU) as Governor Babatunde Fashola announced the reversal of the school fees to the old rate of N25,000.

Governor Fashola, who is the visitor to the university, made the announcement on the second day of LASU convocation ceremony for the award of higher degrees, which triggered jubilation among students and staff of the institution.

However, the convocation was nearly marred by protests by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Students Union over the withheld salaries for June and July and the consequent arrest of about 10 SSANU members during the protest as well as the injury sustained by a student when policemen shot teargas at the protesting unions.

Fashola told the gathering that he had liaised with the state executive council on LASU school fees and approved the reversal to the old fees of N25,000.

On June 11, the governor had announced the reduction of the fees by 34 to 60 per cent, which was rejected by the students and the staff unions.

There was spontaneous jubilation by the students, led by their President, Nurudeen Yusuf, while SSANU and NASU members later joined in the celebration as they showered praises on Governor Fashola for listening to their agitation for further reduction of the school fees.

As soon as the announcement was made, the students’ union president rushed out from the convocation hall and was carried shoulder-high by some students for leading them to victory.

When the governor came out from the venue of the convocation, the students and staff began another round of jubilation as they stood in front his convoy dancing and celebrating the fees reversal.

•Text courtesy of Daily Sun. Photo shows Governor Fashola.