The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed strong disapproval of the statement made by the presidency concerning the rise in school fees, labeling it as deceptive and inaccurate.
The presidency, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Communication, Dele Alake, refuted reports that President Bola Tinubu was responsible for the increase in tuition fees at federal government-owned universities.
Alake clarified that the decision to increase fees is left to the discretion of each university, emphasizing that institutions have the authority to determine charges for various services such as hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory usage, and other additional expenses, which are separate from the actual school fees.
However, NANS in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Giwa Temitope said the presidency’s comment “is a dubious attempt to conceal the real picture and the extent of the crises the Federal Government and authorities of tertiary institutions have driven the students into.”
It also said the Tinubu-led administration displayed a “lack of willingness to ensure the education sector is uplifted”.
“The posture of the Nigerian government towards what we tag astronomical and illogical increment in fees payable across our Universities. We consider the claim by President Tinubu that Nigerian Universities are tuition-free, as deceitful and misleading.”
The apex student body demanded an immediate reversal of the fee increase in all federal.
Furthermore, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) demanded the abandonment of the student loan scheme proposed by the Federal Government. Instead, they urged for proper funding of the education sector to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of quality education.
“The funding of education remains the sole responsibility of the government and it must remain as such. For no reason should the government, as Dele Alake is trying effortlessly to do, shift the responsibility of funding education to the students or their suffering parents.
“We maintain that there is no reason whatsoever for the increment in fees payable across our Universities. Therefore, we demand an immediate and unconditional reversal of the increment in fees in all the affected institutions.
“Yes, federal Universities remain tuition-free but the sundry payment students are being tasked to pay should solely be the sole responsibility of the government. As a matter of fact, if truly Tinubu is interested in ensuring that every Nigerian regardless of the economic situation has access to quality education, as painted by Dele Alake in his press text on behalf of the Nigerian presidency, his administration must invest more substantially in the education sector, to ensure access to quality education for everyone, regardless of economic background.
“In light of the outrageous fees paid by Nigerian students, the tuition-free policy is tantamount to free tuition in exchange for outrageous fees!”
The statement further stated, “Increasing fees payable will automatically deny thousands of students access to education and we, as an association have resolved to vehemently oppose it. Students loan which Dele Alake is fronting is far from the way forward but grants, aids, and scholarship. This is because the student loan scheme is an attempt to turn students into life-long debtors in exchange for a service that ought to be provided for by the government.
“In an economy where gainful employment has become a miracle people pray for in religious centres, it is callous to make them debtors even before they commence their career. We also consider the student loan scheme as an effort in the wrong direction. The conditions attached to the loan are bogus and almost impossible to meet by any student. It appears the loan policy on paper is a loan for all, while in practice it is a loan for NONE.”
