Subsidy Removal: NANS Kick Against School Fees Hike In Tertiary Institutions

Following the harsh living conditions the subsidy removal has subjected Nigerians to, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the increase of school fees by tertiary institutions in the country and has demanded for a reduction to enable students complete their studies.

The apex student union also sounded a note of warning that although the Students Loan Scheme being introduced by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration was impressive, it should not be a yardstick for School fees hike across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

NANS Coordinator, North Central Zone Shedrack Anzaku who made the demand at NANS Senate Retreat and Symposium on Thursday in Abuja, equally frowned at public institutions that have inflated their tution fees without considering the hardships and difficulties Nigerians were currently undergoing.

He said: “What the Association expects is school fees reduction and not increment because the rate of dropout is increasing.

We frown against all forms of school fees increment because at a time like this when there is numerous hardship across the country.

”We find it hard to understand the increment because in spite of the removal of subsidy, diesel is what schools use mostly and the price of diesel has reduced so we expect reduction in all ramification.”

The NANS leader who noted that students of Bida Polytechnic were yet to resume due to a hike in their school fees, regretted that even though the new fee has been reduced
by N10,000, students were still yet to resume.

According to him the development at Bida Polytechnics led leadership of the student body to write to the National Universities Commission (NUC), to prevail on tertiary institutions to reduce school fees.

He, however, commended the Federal Government for introducing the student loan scheme to ease education burden on students, especially the indigent students.

”We also kick against hike in school fees on account of the students loan Act because the Act is meant to assist students to get proper education.

”We have written to NUC to call on schools to reduce school fees else we will protest in our large numbers. We are going on campus tour to talk to Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts to reduce school fees,” he added.

Meanwhile, a presidential aspirant of NANS, Comrade Rioborue Jude Deniran has urged the federal government to fully remove the age-long discrimination between holders of Higher National Diploma and Bachelor of Science degree in public service in the country.

In his seven points agenda, Deniran vowed to build the image and integrity of NANS and make it a true representative of the teeming Nigerian students by reactivating all the working relations with other key departments, agencies and unions in education/labour force.

He said: “The responsibility of our dear Association to students’ well-being on and off campuses remain sacrosanct and as such a rapid campus intervention to ensure uninterrupted and smooth academic Calendar for degree class, reinstatement of all politically victimized students and student leaders, reinstatement of democratically elected students union shall be prioritized as information shall be gathered through Expanded Executive Council while special committee(s) will be put in place to see to all matters of urgency in rapid, responsive and responsible manner.

“My administration shall champion the full implementation of HND, BSc certificate disparity Campaign for adequate funding of education particularly in adherence to UNESCO 26 per cent recommended budgetary allocation for education by Nigeria.”

New Telegraph.