The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a stern warning to both federal and state governments, declaring that an imminent nationwide student uprising will occur if the current increase in tuition fees in all tertiary institutions is not stopped immediately.
In a statement issued by the NANS National President, Comrade Usman Umar Barambu, during the first North-East Zonal Senate sitting of NANS held at the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi, he lamented the negative impact of the hike in tuition fees on students, particularly those from poor backgrounds who are struggling to get an education. News About Nigeria reports.
Barambu added that parents are also finding it difficult to raise the fees, and the increment has added an unbearable burden on them.
“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,” he said.
The NANS President noted that tuition fees must be brought down to be commensurate with the present economic situation in the country.
He 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.
“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,” he added.
The NANS President’s warning is coming at a time when the country is still grappling with the impact of COVID-19 and its resultant economic downturn, which has left many families struggling to make ends meet.
It remains to be seen if the government will heed the warning and take the necessary steps to address the situation before it escalates into a nationwide shutdown.
