If you graduated from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and haven’t collected your certificate, or if your convocation is coming up, you should know about a new policy.
UNILAG’s Senate has updated its service charges and introduced a demurrage payment for uncollected certificates.
This guide explains what’s changed, how much you might pay if you delay, and how to avoid these extra charges.
Contents
What UNILAG’s Senate Actually Approved
On Wednesday, 31st May 2023, the University of Lagos Senate approved new charges for several university services and introduced a demurrage payment for uncollected certificates.
Before this, graduates who delayed collecting their certificates did not face increasing financial penalties for waiting.
The university explained that these fee changes are due to rising inflation and said the updates were needed because service costs had probably stayed the same for a long time.
The New Certificate Demurrage Policy Explained
This is the main change, and it’s important to understand because it affects all UNILAG graduates from now on:
- Any certificate not collected in the year immediately following convocation will attract a demurrage charge of ₦10,000.
- An additional ₦5,000 charge applies for every subsequent year the certificate remains uncollected.
- In simple terms, the demurrage charge increases each year you wait to collect your certificate. The longer you delay, the more you will have to pay.
- This demurrage charge is added to any convocation and certificate collection fees for your graduation year. It does not replace those fees, but is charged on top of them.
For example, if a graduate waits three years after convocation to collect their certificate, they would pay the base ₦10,000 demurrage charge, plus ₦5,000 for each extra year, along with the usual convocation and certificate collection fees for their year.
Other Revised Service Charges
Besides the demurrage policy, the Senate’s May 2023 review also changed several other service fees:
- Re-issuance of burnt or damaged certificates: ₦50,000, a figure the university explicitly attributed to rising inflation.
- Re-issuance for spelling errors attributable to student mistakes: ₦35,000, provided the original certificate is returned before any change of authorized signatories at the university.
- Re-issuance for spelling errors caused by the university itself: No extra cost to the student, again provided the certificate is returned for correction before a change of signatories.
- Transcript upload processing: A total processing cost of ₦25,000 for uploading transcripts through the application portal.
- Inter/Intra-Faculty Transfer Application Form: ₦20,000 to obtain this form.
Why the “Return Before Change of Signatories” Condition Matters
Important detail: to get a free or discounted re-issuance for spelling errors, you must return the original certificate before the university changes its authorized signatories.
These signatories can change when new leaders take office.
If you wait too long and the signatories change, you might lose the chance for a free or cheaper correction.
So, it’s best to fix any errors as soon as you find them.
How Often These Fees Get Reviewed
UNILAG has stated that these fees, effective from 31st May 2023, are subject to review by the university at a maximum interval of five years, aligned with the prevailing rate of inflation at the time of each review.
This means graduates and prospective students should expect these figures to change again in future years, rather than assuming they’re permanently fixed at their 2023 levels.
Why This Policy Was Introduced
The demurrage policy tackles a common issue in Nigerian universities: many graduates do not collect their certificates soon after convocation.
These uncollected certificates build up and cause storage and administrative problems.
By adding a growing financial penalty, UNILAG encourages graduates to collect their certificates on time instead of putting it off.
What Graduates Should Do to Avoid These Charges
- Set a reminder to collect your certificate right after convocation. The demurrage charge starts the year after your ceremony, so treat certificate collection as a real deadline, not something to do later.
- Check UNILAG’s official convocation announcements for the collection window and procedure for your graduating year. Procedures and fees can change, so stay updated as your convocation approaches.
- If you have moved or cannot collect your certificate in person, contact the Academic Affairs or Exams and Records office to ask about alternative collection or proxy options. Don’t just leave your certificate uncollected.
- Check your certificate for spelling errors as soon as you collect it. If you find a mistake early, you can report it and possibly avoid paying a large re-issuance fee later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. When did UNILAG’s new fees and certificate demurrage policy take effect?
The policy took effect from 31st May 2023, following approval at the University of Lagos Senate meeting held that day.
2. How much is the certificate demurrage charge?
Any certificate not collected in the year immediately following convocation attracts a demurrage charge of ₦10,000, with an additional ₦5,000 charged for every subsequent year the certificate remains uncollected.
3. Is the demurrage charge instead of, or in addition to, regular convocation fees?
It’s in addition to.
The demurrage policy stacks on top of previously approved charges for convocation and certificate collection applicable in your graduating year, rather than replacing them.
4. How much does it cost to replace a burnt or damaged UNILAG certificate?
Re-issuance for a burnt or damaged certificate costs ₦50,000, a figure the university attributed to rising inflation.
5. What if my certificate has a spelling error that’s my fault?
Re-issuance for spelling errors attributable to the student’s own mistake costs ₦35,000, provided the original certificate is returned before any change of authorized signatories at the university.
6. What if the university made the spelling error, not me?
Certificates with spelling errors made by the university are re-issued at no extra cost, again provided the certificate is returned for correction before a change of signatories.
7. How much does transcript upload processing cost at UNILAG?
The total processing cost for uploading transcripts through the application portal is ₦25,000.
8. How much does an Inter/Intra-Faculty Transfer Application Form cost?
Obtaining this form costs ₦20,000, as part of the same May 2023 Senate fee review.
9. Will these fees change again in the future?
Yes, potentially.
UNILAG has stated these fees are subject to review by the university at a maximum interval of five years, in line with the prevailing rate of inflation at the time of each review.
10. What’s the best way to avoid paying demurrage on my certificate?
Collect your certificate within the year immediately following your convocation ceremony.
Since the demurrage charge escalates the longer a certificate remains uncollected, prompt collection is the most straightforward way to avoid this cost entirely.
Final Thoughts
UNILAG’s certificate demurrage policy and new service charges, approved in May 2023, are now in effect.
The goal is to encourage graduates to collect their certificates on time.
Whether you graduated recently or still have an old certificate at UNILAG, check your status and collection steps with the university soon, because the charges increase the longer you wait.
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