NANS vows to resist hike in school fees by tertiary institutions
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vowed to resist plans by some tertiary institutions to hike school fees.
According to a press release signed by the National President of the body, Comrade Chinonso Obasi reads “NANS received the report that about 38 tertiary institutions have concluded plans to jack up tuition fees in their institutions with utter pain and disgust, because over the years Nigerian students have been made to bear the brunt of poverty ideas and administrative ineptitude of managers and chief executives of tertiary institutions.”
“In saner climes, education funding includes revenue from researches and consultative collaborations.”
“Implementation of UNESCO strategies, particularly commercializing research findings should occupy Nigeria educational institutions rather than constant hike in tuition fees payable by helpless students
The statement added that NANS believe that the planned hike in tuition fees would be the best straw that would “break the cycle of obnoxious levy on learning and pursuit of education”.
“We regret to note that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has not done much to justify the confidence of Nigerian students within the two years of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in power. This oversight Nigerian students to the success of the administration’s key policies and programmes, such as, the fight against corruption, maintenance of peace and unity of the country, as well as campaign for local government autonomy”.
The statement further reads, NANS feels that Nigerian students further reads, NANS feels that Nigerian students do not merit such harsh punishment as fee increases which would further limit capacity of the students to dream of a better future. Consequently the National President, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, in concert with the national executive of NANS wishes to serve notice to the authorities concerned that Nigerian students will never endure any increase in tuition at this time of the nation’s socio-economic challenge.”
“If administration of Nigeria’s educational institutions have run out of ideas of funding education in the country, they should feel free to liaise with students to explore new ways of funding, instead of the usual resort to internal revenue generation through increase tuition fees”, the statement stated.
“However, NANS wishes to reiterate the fact that Nigerian students have been patient with PMB administration and our patience has reached the elastic limit.
“President Buhari should recognize that it is time to reward the understanding and cooperation of Nigerian students with education subsidy, proper funding of education and adequate welfare initiatives for students and resisting the temptation to increase tuition fee.
“NANS wishes to inform Nigerians that attempt by this administration to increase tuition fee in our tertiary institutions, will leave Nigerian students with no other option than passing a vote of no confidence on the APC led Federal Government.
“We therefore call on all well-meaning individuals and stakeholders of education to hasten and find lasting solutions to the deplorable attitude towards education in the country and put smiles on the faces of the most marginalized group of Nigerians, the students”, the statement stressed.
