The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vehemently opposed the proposed tuition fee increments in higher institutions across the country, singling out the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), and the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA), for condemnation. Comrade Akinteye Afeez, the Senate President of NANS, issued a stern statement on Thursday, declaring the development unacceptable and warning of potential nationwide student protests.
In the statement, NANS expressed strong disapproval of the disregard shown by certain vice chancellors and institution heads towards the Federal Government’s explicit instructions against tuition fee hikes. The student body emphasized its commitment to protecting the rights and interests of Nigerian students, declaring that if the institutions persisted in their defiance, NANS would mobilize students across the country for protests aimed at shutting down the nation until their demands were met.
NANS stressed that education is a right, not a privilege, and highlighted the government’s responsibility to monitor the implementation of the new education budget. Any attempt to burden students with additional financial strain, especially through tuition fee increments, would be met with fierce resistance, according to the statement. The organization argued that education should be accessible to every Nigerian, and policies that threaten this accessibility, such as proposed fee hikes, are vehemently rejected.
The potential consequences of such fee increases were outlined by NANS, including the risk of students abandoning education due to financial strain, leading to increased unemployment and potential involvement in criminal activities for survival. The organization called on the Federal Government to swiftly intervene, aligning with its commitment to affordable and quality education for all. NANS emphasized the potential fallout from tuition fee hikes, including a surge in crimes, a decline in national productivity, and a setback to collective progress.
In conclusion, NANS reiterated its unwavering commitment to monitoring developments closely and urged the Federal Government to take decisive action in the interest of the nation’s future leaders. The organization emphasized the crucial role of education as a right and called for immediate measures to prevent the impending crisis.
END.