NANS rejects increase in fees by universities

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will resist
plans by some tertiary institutions to increase tuition fees, its
President, Mr Chinonso Obasi has said.

Obasi, in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Abuja, said that
NANS had received the report that no fewer than 38 tertiary
institutions had concluded plans to jack up tuition fees.
The NANS president said that the association was pained by the move
as Nigerian students had over the years been made to bear the brunt
of administrative ineptitude of managers of tertiary
institutions.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had on Monday
alerted Nigerians to the increase of tuition fees by 38
universities due to poor funding by the federal and state
governments.
“In saner climes, education funding includes revenue from
researches and consultative collaborations.

“Implementat0ion of UNESCO strategies, particularly
commercialising research findings should occupy Nigeria educational
institutions rather than constant hike in tuition fees payable by
hapless students.

“However NANS believes that the planned hike in tuition fees
would be the last straw that would break the cycle of obnoxious
levy on learning and pursuit of education.’’
He regretted that the APC-led administration had not showed enough
commitment to improving the education sector and the plight of
students.

Obasi said that the students were made to study under poor
conditions in spite their positive contributions 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.

He said that Nigerian students did not deserve such harsh
punishment as fee increase would further limit the capacity of
students to dream of a better future.
“Consequently 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.

“If administrators of Nigeria’s educational institutions have
run out of ideas of funding and sustaining educational institutions
in the country, they should feel free to liaise with students to
explore new ways of funding the institutions.

“While we express our readiness to dialogue with chief
executives of tertiary institutions, NANS wishes to reiterate the
fact that Nigerian students have been patient with the President
Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“The President Buhari administration should recognise that this
is time to reward the understanding and cooperation of Nigerian
students with education subsidy, proper funding of education and
adequate welfare initiatives for students,’’ he said.

Obasi called on well-meaning individuals and stakeholders to
hasten and find lasting solutions to the deplorable condition of
the education sector in the country.

(NAN)

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will resist
plans by some tertiary institutions to increase tuition fees, its
President, Mr Chinonso Obasi has said.

Obasi, in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Abuja, said that
NANS had received the report that no fewer than 38 tertiary
institutions had concluded plans to jack up tuition fees.
The NANS president said that the association was pained by the move
as Nigerian students had over the years been made to bear the brunt
of administrative ineptitude of managers of tertiary
institutions.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had on Monday
alerted Nigerians to the increase of tuition fees by 38
universities due to poor funding by the federal and state
governments.
“In saner climes, education funding includes revenue from
researches and consultative collaborations.

“Implementat0ion of UNESCO strategies, particularly
commercialising research findings should occupy Nigeria educational
institutions rather than constant hike in tuition fees payable by
hapless students.

“However NANS believes that the planned hike in tuition fees
would be the last straw that would break the cycle of obnoxious
levy on learning and pursuit of education.’’
He regretted that the APC-led administration had not showed enough
commitment to improving the education sector and the plight of
students.

Obasi said that the students were made to study under poor
conditions in spite their positive contributions 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.

He said that Nigerian students did not deserve such harsh
punishment as fee increase would further limit the capacity of
students to dream of a better future.
“Consequently 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.

“If administrators of Nigeria’s educational institutions have
run out of ideas of funding and sustaining educational institutions
in the country, they should feel free to liaise with students to
explore new ways of funding the institutions.

“While we express our readiness to dialogue with chief
executives of tertiary institutions, NANS wishes to reiterate the
fact that Nigerian students have been patient with the President
Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“The President Buhari administration should recognise that this
is time to reward the understanding and cooperation of Nigerian
students with education subsidy, proper funding of education and
adequate welfare initiatives for students,’’ he said.

Obasi called on well-meaning individuals and stakeholders to
hasten and find lasting solutions to the deplorable condition of
the education sector in the country.

(NAN)