Ths National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Thursday in Bauchi announced plans to conduct a mass protest against tuition fees hike in tertiary institutions by shutting down all airports and other strategic locations in the county to demand for reversal of the policy.
The National President of the Association, Comrade Usman Barambu who announced this at the 1st North-East Zonal Senate sitting of NANS held on Thursday at the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi, insisted that the tuition fees must be brought down to be commensurate with the present economic situation in the country as it will be very difficult for parents to raise the money to pay the new rate.
Barambu stated that the increase in tuition fees has negatively affected students particularly those who are from the poorest of the poor and called for collective action towards finding solutions to the issue.
“Very soon, we are going to completely shut down the country, nothing is going to move until our demands are heard and granted, we will shut down the entire country, we will not block the highways because it is our poor parents that will suffer it, but will shut down all the airports across the country, that is where it will pain them most.
“During the recent Naira notes crisis, some of the Governors rushed to the Supreme Court to halt its implementation and they won. Now, there are moves to increase the tuition fees but they are not talking because it does not affect them, their children are far away from the country.”
He said that the plan was hatcheted with some ASUU collaborators, saying that the situation will be resisted by the entire students of the country who have been bashed and traumatised for a long time.
He then called on security agencies to advise the government on what to do in order to avert the dangers ahead if the tuition fees increase was implemented because according to him, “a frustrated student who cannot afford to pay school fees can be a willing tool to be used as a bandit to get satisfaction.”
Barambu therefore directed SUGs to remain focus in the struggle for the welfare of students and assured of NANS's support at all times to protect and defend fundamental human rights of students against intimidation.
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