National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has condemned the imposition of fines on students for late payment of tuitions by the authorities of their respective institutions.

In a statement issued on Monday by the National Secretary General of the association, Oladimeji Uthman, NANS said the trend is insensitive to the economic realities facing students and parents nationwide.

“As the apex body representing the interests and welfare of Nigerian students both at home and in diaspora, we strongly condemn this practice and describe it as an act of extortion against innocent students and their parents who are already grappling with the harsh realities of the current economic situation,” the statement read.

NANS noted that many students are not deliberately defaulting but are unable to meet deadlines due to prevailing economic challenges.

The association also raised concerns over beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, who it said are often forced to seek alternative funding because loan disbursement does not align with institutional calendars.

“Since NELFUND operates independently of individual institutional academic calendars, the processing and disbursement of approved loans may not always coincide with school fee deadlines,” NANS said.

“Subjecting such students to penalty fees for delays beyond their control is both unfair and unrealistic. Imposing additional financial burdens through penalty charges only worsens their plight and creates unnecessary barriers to accessing education.”

The student body argued that education should not be commercialized to the extent that students are punished for circumstances beyond their control.

It pointed out that most institutions already operate a “No Payment, No Examination” policy, which it described as sufficient for ensuring compliance.

“The introduction of additional penalty charges amounts to double punishment for students and cannot be justified under any guise.

“Institutions must desist from policies that appear exploitative and insensitive to the realities confronting students across the country.”

The association further described the continuous imposition of penalty fees as counterproductive to government efforts to stabilize the economy and ease the burden on citizens.

NANS however called on management of all tertiary institutions across the federation to immediately review and discontinue policies imposing punitive charges on late payment of school fees.

It urged institutions to embrace student-friendly alternatives that guarantee access to education while maintaining administrative order.

NANS also directed affected students to report such cases to its leadership through appropriate channels, assuring that it would engage the affected institutions and relevant authorities to protect students’ rights and welfare.

“We wish to put all tertiary institutions on notice that NANS will not hesitate to take appropriate actions where students are subjected to exploitative charges disguised as administrative penalties,” the statement warned. (Nigerian Tribune)