The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to reopen its school fees payment and course registration portal for 48 hours to enable affected students complete their registration before the commencement of examinations.

 

In a statement issued on Friday, NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, described the closure of the portal on June 21 as worrisome, noting that the university’s examinations are not scheduled to begin until August 10.

 

He argued that shutting the portal nearly seven weeks before examinations had left many students, who were still making efforts to pay their fees, at the risk of losing the academic session.

 

The students’ body said the decision was particularly harsh given the prevailing economic hardship in the country, stressing that many parents and students were struggling to meet their financial obligations despite the Federal Government’s student loan initiative.

 

According to NANS, institutions should demonstrate flexibility by allowing more time for genuine students to complete payment and registration.

 

“The closure of the portal at a time when examinations are still weeks away is difficult to justify, especially when many students are making genuine efforts to raise their school fees amid the current economic hardship,” Afeez said.

 

“Denying such students the opportunity to complete their registration undermines the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education through the NELFUND initiative.

 

He added: “While we respect the university’s right to administer its academic processes, we appeal to the management to temper justice with mercy by reopening the portal for at least 48 hours.

 

“This final window will give affected students the opportunity to pay their fees, register their courses and sit for their examinations. No Nigerian student should lose an academic session because of circumstances beyond their control.”

 

While acknowledging the university’s authority to manage its registration process, the association urged the management to temper its decision with compassion by granting a final 48-hour window for affected students to pay their fees and register their courses.

 

It maintained that such a move would prevent eligible students from being unfairly excluded from examinations.

 

NANS reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the interests of Nigerian students and called on UNILAG authorities to urgently reconsider the decision in line with the current economic realities, insisting that no student should be denied access to education over circumstances beyond their control.