The National Association of Nigerian Students has warned Heads of Tertiary institutions against flagrant increase in tuition fees following the decision by the Federal Government to give students loans under the NELFUND scheme.
The warning is contained in a statement issued after the NANS’s 74th Senate sitting in Kano, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Wednesday.
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The statement which was signed by Comrade Okunomo Adewumi, President of the Senate, National Association of Nigerian Students, National Headquarters, warned the heads of Tertiary institutions against exploiting the recent approval of student loans to increase tuition fees.
“Any institution found doing so will face the full wrath and consequences of NANS. We will mobilize our members and take decisive action against such institutions.
“The leadership of NANS is ready to wage war against any school that increases tuition fees under the guise of the student loan scheme,” the students union said in the statement.
The students union also called for an immediate and drastic reduction of tuition fees across all Tertiary institutions in the country in order to the hardship being encountered by Students and their parents.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has convened its 74th Senate sitting in Kano State, where we engaged in a thorough deliberation on the precarious state of our nation. We express our profound dismay and disillusionment with the current economic trajectory, which has precipitated unprecedented hardship and sufferings on Nigerian citizens.
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On the planned mass protests against the current economic situation, the students body urged its members to remain calm and await the Federal Government’s response on its demands.
“While we understand the sentiments driving the proposed protest by well-meaning Nigerians, we urge our members to remain calm and observe the government’s response to our demands.
“We will not hesitate to mobilize if the government fails to address our concerns. We also acknowledge the right of Nigerians to exercise their civil rights and will not stand in the way of peaceful protests. However, we will not condone any attempts to sabotage the efforts of Nigerians who are calling on the government to take necessary action.
“Also, on the planned nationwide protest, the Senate has mandated the NANS President; Comrade Pedro Obi, to immediately consult all relevant stakeholders and SUG across the country and declare to the World on or before 31st July, 2024, NANS stand for Nigerian students whether to join the Nationwide protest or not.
“We call on the government to immediately reduce the cost of petrol. Failure to comply will leave us no option but to mobilize and take to the streets in protest.
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“We demand the immediate sack of the NNPC GCEO, Mr. Mele Kyari for his incompetence and ineptitude in handling the Dangote refinery and obvious conflict of interest in their fuel racketeering scheme.
“We also demand that the CBN Governor takes immediate action to stabilize the Naira-Dollar exchange rate, bringing it down to a maximum of 600 Naira to a Dollar within 30 days. Failure to comply will result in calls for his removal from office,” the statement said.
