The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has asked the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to declare a state of emergency on the Nigerian Educational System, noting that if it refuses to declare it, it may do so for them.
NANS also urged the Nigerian government to call the stakeholders to look for a lasting solution that would help the masses to be able to afford prestigious government established institutions.
The group in a statement signed by its Vice President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez called on the management of the University of Lagos to as a matter of urgency, revert its tuition fees recently hiked.
The NANS threatened that failure to do this, “UNILAG shall incur the wrath of the Nigerian Students and the school shall be shut down indefinitely until our demands are met.”
NANS also warned other tertiary institutions, which are already planning to increase their fees to further crush education in Nigeria, to think twice and source for fund elsewhere to meet their needs.
The statement reads in part; "Since ages, education has been one of the most viable leveller of the different classes and statuses of people in Nigeria. Education has made it possible for the poor to meet up with the rich and change the class of his immediate and extended families by being able to afford what his family could not have been able to get for him. Stories like this may soon go into extinction because the present hike in school fees by almost every institution will not make education accessible for the poor and average Nigerians.
"Amidst escalating cost of living in the country as a result of the hike in fuel price and subsequent hike in the prices of goods and services, some educational institutions have announced significant increases in tuition and other fees, while others are planning to do so in order to cope with the effects of the removal of subsidy on petrol.
"Most recently, the management of the University of Lagos, Akoka, reportedly increased the fees for undergraduates in the institution. This was contained in a statement dated July 20, 2023, by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, UNILAG branch, following a meeting with the top management of the institution.
"The union said in the statement that fees would be increased for undergraduate students in the next academic session. Students of the institution previously paid N19,000 for tuition, but the management has now fixed N190,250 for students studying Medicine, while for courses that require laboratories and studios are to pay N140,250.
"This is highly ridiculous and completely unacceptable. If any sector of government would need palliatives as it stands, it has to be the education sector and most especially the tertiary education.
"The actions and inactions of our government and managements of these institutions put our parents in severe burden and a state of helplessness whenever they come up with these unthoughtful policies. It is highly insensitive and demeaning of an higher institution to wake up one morning and increase her fees from #19,000 to #190,000. This is totally careless and inconsiderate on the part of this management.
"Majority of these parents are of average and low classes in the society who are already battling with subsidy removal that did not come with any form of palliatives or salary increase for the civil servants and employees amongst them.
"The business men and women are also battling with the prices of goods and the decrease in patronage they experience on a daily basis. The cost of living on the other hand is biting hard with prices of foodstuff and rent going up by over a hundred percent. The situation is alarming.
"This is why we are appealing to the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Nigerian Educational System and call the stakeholders to look for a lasting solution that will help the common man to be able to afford these prestigious government established institutions when their children are qualified. If they refuse to declare it, we may do so for them. It is a very easy task for us to accomplish. We have done so in the past and we can do it again.
"Also, the management of the University of Lagos must, as a matter of urgency, revert her tuition fees to its usually amount. Failure to do this, UNILAG shall incur the wrath of the Nigerian Students and the school shall be shut down indefinitely until our demands are met. We hereby call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, to do the needful by ensuring that the increment vanishes by issuing a statement to that effect within the next 48hours.
"We are the Nigerian Students and our leaders in all cadre owe us some sort of responsibility to keep us sane and safe by doing everything possible within the armpits of the law to allow us access to education. Education is our right and we must get it at all cost regardless of how selfish and self-centered our leaders are.
"This is also to send a note of warning to other tertiary institutions, which are already planning to increase their fees to further crush education in Nigeria, to think twice and source for fund elsewhere to meet their needs. Otherwise, they should be ready to receive us as unusual guests who will come and reside in their abode and offices until they yield to our demands. Solidarity forever. We shall always fight for this right of ours - EDUCATION!"