The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently prevail on the management of various Federal universities in the country to drop their plans to increase school fees and levies being paid by the students.
The students’ body warned that if its appeal ignored, and the institutions go ahead to implement the hike, all Nigerian students would embark on nationwide protest and remain on the streets till their demand is met.
The NANS made the call through a statement issued on Saturday by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Temitope Giwa.
According to NANS, the increment of school fees by the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, as announced on Friday, and the planned increment by other federal universities across the country and even for the federal government colleges, have shown that the current administration is insensitive to the plights of most Nigerians, who are going through difficult times.
The association said: “It is most ridiculous that government will be introducing fees increment without thinking of rescuing the over 133 million Nigerians out of multi-dimensional poverty they are in.
“To us, increment in school fees will complicate the poverty conditions of most parents and students and also increase the number of out-of-school children in the country.
“Before now, some students couldn’t afford the fees and various other levies and because of that, dropped out of school and what would now happen to students, who are sponsoring themselves and their parents, who have more than one child in school?
“As an association, we believe that the Nigerian government has what it takes to massively fund education and make it accessible if there is a political will.
“In fact, the student loan that was introduced by the Federal Government is nothing but a sham and a bait to lure Nigerian people into accepting increment in fees payment.
“Beyond the fact that the terms of the loan are ridiculous, history has taught us that not every applicant will be considered.
“And even if all were to be considered, that does not justify fees increment in an economy like ours with a high unemployment index.
“Now, rather than give us loans, government should give us grants and scholarships.
“Our demand therefore is clear and simple and that is to tell all schools with the decision to increase their fees to suspend such plan and those that have already announced theirs to reverse it with immediate effect.
“Otherwise, we will embark on an all-round protest that will last till the Federal Government reverses the policy.”