NANS THREATENS TO RESIST VERSITIES' TUITION FEES

NANS threatens to resist hike in varsities' tuition fees

The National Asso­ciation of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vowed to resist plans by some universities to increase their tuition fees.

Its National President, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, in a statement he made available to news­men on Wednesday, said that any increment in tu­ition fees would further worsen the present eco­nomic woes being faced by students.

He said: “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 include revenue from researches and consultative collabo­rations. Implementation of UNESCO strategies, particularly commercial­ising research findings should occupy Nigeria educational institutions rather than the constant hike in tuition fees pay­able by helpless students.”

According to the stu­dents’ leader, the hike in tuition fees would be the last straw “that would break the cycle of obnox­ious levy on learning and pursuit of education.”

While saying the pres­ent administration has not done much to justify the confidence of Nige­rian students despite the massive support from the students, Obasi said increment in tuition fees would jeopardise the fu­ture of many students.

“NANS feels that Ni­gerian students do not merit such harsh pun­ishment as fee increases, which would further limit the 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 challenges.