The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared that plans by some tertiary institutions to increase tuition fees would be met with maximum resistance.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, NANS President, Comrade Chinonso Obasi 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.”

It said, “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 hapless students.”

The Association expressed the hope that the planned hike in tuition fees would be the last straw that would break the cycle of obnoxious levies on learning and pursuit of education.

“We regret to note that President Muhammadu Buhari administration has not fully committed to justifying the confidence of Nigerian students within the two years of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in power.

“This oversight becomes very painful despite the positive contributions of 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.

“NANS feels that Nigerian students do not merit such harsh punishment as fees increase that would further limit the capacity of the students to dream of better future.

“Consequently the National President, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, in agreement with Nigerian students and the National Executives of NANS wish 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, instead of the usual resort to internal revenue generation through increase in tuition fees.

“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 Buhari administration and our patience has reached the elastic limit. The President Buhari administration should recognize 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 and resisting the temptation to increase tuition fees.

“However NANS wishes to inform Nigerians that any 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.

“NANS is prepared to resist this blatant sabotage against the educational rights of Nigerian students and future youths.

“We therefore call on all well-meaning individuals and stakeholders in 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.”

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