NANS urges UNILAG to reopen fees, registration portal for 48 hours

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The National Association of Nigerian Students has urged the management of the University of Lagos to reopen its school fees payment and course registration portal for 48 hours, warning that the closure has left many students at risk of missing their examinations amid prevailing economic hardship.

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In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its President, Akinteye Babatunde, the association appealed to the university authorities to reconsider the decision, arguing that many students were still making genuine efforts to pay their fees before the portal was shut.

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NANS noted that the portal was closed on June 21 even though the university’s examinations are scheduled to begin on August 10, leaving a gap of nearly seven weeks.

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“The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students views, with grave concern, the sudden closure of the school fees payment and course registration portal at the University of Lagos, which was shut on the 21st of June, despite examinations not being scheduled to commence until the 10th of August, almost one and a half months later,” the statement read.

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The association said the decision came at a time when many Nigerian families are battling severe economic challenges, insisting that universities should demonstrate greater flexibility to prevent students from being denied access to education.

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“This decision, coming at a time when the country is grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, wherein the President of the Federation has put in place the NELFUND initiative to make education accessible to all, is a direct attack on this golden initiative,” NANS said.

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“It is only patriotic and humane to expect that institutions show some leniency by keeping their portals open long enough to accommodate those still making genuine efforts to raise their fees. Many students who were actively working to raise their fees have now been shut out entirely, placing their academic pursuits at serious risk through no fault of their own.”

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While acknowledging the university’s right to determine its administrative processes, NANS urged the management to temper its decision with compassion.

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“We do not dispute the prerogative of the university management to determine the administration of its own portal, but we appeal, with all sense of responsibility and deference, that this right be exercised with clemency and consideration,” the statement added.

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The student body appealed to the university to reopen the portal for at least 48 hours to enable affected students complete payment of fees and course registration before the commencement of examinations.

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“We request that the UNILAG management reopen the portal for payment and registration for at least forty-eight hours to give affected students one last opportunity to complete their registration ahead of the examinations. However sound justice may be in principle, it ought never to be devoid of mercy,” the association stated.

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It further urged the management to review the policy in view of the country’s economic realities.

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“We therefore call on the Management of UNILAG to urgently reconsider this policy in light of the prevailing economic realities and to reopen the portal without further delay. We kindly urge the Management of UNILAG to act on this matter in the most humane way possible so that the concerns of these students do not fall through the cracks.”

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Reaffirming its commitment to protecting students’ interests, NANS said it would continue to advocate for policies that promote access to education.

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“NANS remains committed to ensuring that no Nigerian student is denied access to education. We will continue to stand for, advance, and represent the collective will of Nigerian students,” the statement added.

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The appeal comes amid growing concerns over the rising cost of tertiary education and the financial pressures facing students across Nigeria. Although the Federal Government has expanded access to higher education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, many students continue to experience delays in accessing financial support or struggle to meet payment deadlines due to economic hardship. Student groups have increasingly urged tertiary institutions to adopt more flexible registration and fee payment timelines to ensure eligible students are not prevented from sitting examinations because of financial constraints.

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