The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has condemned and kicked against the news of the sudden hike in fees and other charges by Nigerian Universities, especially in the Northeast.
NANS made this known when its National Vice President (Special Duties), Comrade Suleiman Muhammad Sarki, addressed journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The students said the registration fees increment by Nigerian universities, especially, in the northeast region, soon after the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, suspended their strike is a threat to the ongoing peace-building process, whose backlash may produce what they called, ‘fresh intellectual insurgents.’
They, therefore, direct the students not to pay the new fees, until consultation with the Governing Councils, to reverse the fee hike, has been concluded.
It could be recalled that the University of Maiduguri Governing Council, had announced an upward review of students’ registration fees in December, citing “rising costs in teaching and learning materials.”
“We want to express our displeasure on any registration charges increment by the universities, because it is not only capitalistic which thousands of returning students cannot afford, but also an attempt to further deny North-eastern citizens access to education, which in turn may affect the ongoing peace-building process in the zone.”
The students also said that at a critical time of hardship being experienced by Nigerians, an increment of any amount on the registration charges will lead to a huge number of school dropouts across the country.
“We are calling for urgent intervention by well-meaning Nigerians, especially for people in the northeast, because the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS shall not hesitate to stage a massive protest against the decision.”
A check on the new fees hike at the University of Maiduguri for example, shows more than a hundred percent increase, for most courses.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
