The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) warned against a hike in tuition fees by universities across the country.
NANS, in a statement by its Senate President, Akinteye Babatunde, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, condemned the recent moves by some Vice Chancellors to increase tuition fees.
Babatunde, who expressed NANS’s anger over the decision, vowed to work assiduously to ensure that the government rescinds it.
He said, “We strongly condemn the recent moves by some Vice Chancellors across universities in Nigeria, including the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Ibadan, who are reportedly planning unjustifiable increments in tuition and other fees.
“These senseless actions are designed to frustrate the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s newly introduced Student Loan Scheme.
“It has come to our attention that these Vice Chancellors are hatching plans that will undermine President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s noble objective of providing accessible education through the Student Scheme.”
He explained that the scheme was meant to offer relief to students and their families by addressing the financial constraints faced by many Nigerian students in accessing quality education.
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“We call on President Tinubu to urgently investigate this anti-student agenda and take decisive action by sacking these Vice Chancellors who are determined to obstruct educational progress.
“Any such move to inflate fees under the guise of institutional development or financial constraints is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Nigerian student body.”
The students also called on all well-meaning Nigerians, parents, and education stakeholders to join them in resisting the oppressive and senseless fee increments.
“Education should be made affordable and accessible to all, not used as a tool for exploitation. We remain committed to defending the interests of Nigerian students and ensuring that the scheme is successfully implemented without unnecessary hindrances,” he maintained.
