NANS threatens to shut down Nigeria over increased tuition fees
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday put both the federal and state governments on notice of an imminent stud ents uprising which will lead to complete shutdown of the country if the increase in tuition fees in all tertiary institutions across the country is not stopped immediately.
NANS National President, Comrade Usman Umar Barambu, gave the notice while speaking at the first North-East Zonal Senate sitting of NANS held at the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi.
Barambu said the students body was not pleased with the increase in tuition fees, which he noted had impacted students negatively, particularly those from poor homes yet managing and struggling to go to school.
He asserted that things are hard for parents, most of whom he said currently found it difficult to raise their children and wards school fees, adding that the increment in the fees is an added burden for them.
According to the NANS President, “Very soon we will give the directive on how to go about it. We are going to completely shut down the country, nothing is going to move until our demands are heard and granted.
“The tuition fees must be brought down to be commensurate with the present economic situation in the country. There is no money readily available; it is difficult for parents to raise the money now, not talk about the new rate.”
Barambu regretted that political leaders who are supposed to support the masses against the planned increase in tuition fees in the country are not doing anything in this regard as it does not affect them.
“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 tuition fees but they are not talking because it does not affect them; their children are far away from the country.
“Very soon, we will shut down the entire country: We will not block the highways because it is our poor parents that will suffer. We will shut down all the airports across the country, that is where it will pain them most,” the NANS President said.
