Northern students threaten to shut down campuses over fee hike

Nigerian students in the 19 northern states have threatened to go on region-wide protests following the recent hike in tuition fees across some universities.

Some federal universities, including the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), earlier announced a hike in fees.

According to Punch, Emuseh Gimba, the national coordinator of the coalition of northern groups (CNG) students wing, in a statement on Monday, said the union would take drastic actions should the government fail to reverse the hike.

“We find it regrettable that as a result of these poorly designed policies, hunger is stalking millions of homes, inflation is making life difficult by the day, people are losing jobs,” he was quoted as saying.

“Businesses are closing down infrastructure is decaying, young Nigerians are losing hope of being employed, hospitals are full of people who suffer various illnesses, and cannot afford the fees.”

The group lamented that “some insensitive and indifferent authorities of northern Nigerian universities” have already announced incredible increments in their tuition despite the dire straits facing the region.

It said those in this category are UNIMAID, Federal University Dutse, and the Federal University Lafia.

“We took time to understudy the situation and assess the inherent dangers the hike would pose, especially to the northern region which has been abandoned to the mercy of rampaging banditry and insurgency,” it said.

“The northern region is being held ransom by bandits that operate with ease and at will in all the seven states of the north-west taking total control of land borders, highways, forests, and in some cases railways and airports.

“Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents continue to wreak havoc in the north-east while farmers/herdsmen clashes escalate in the north-central.

“We are convinced therefore that this hike and other potentially damaging policies are part of a calculated design to continuously weaken the North educationally and pauperise it economically.”

CNG demanded that all stakeholders act to stop the hike and ensure “an immediate downward review” of the fees

“We also warn vice-chancellors of Universities in the region to avoid the eventual Hazards and unforeseen circumstances by ensuring that no student drops out from universities as a result of these increases,” it said.

“We place the federal government on notice that if after this decent plea and persuasion, it fails to see reason, we shall take concrete actions which will not preclude mobilising for massive and sustained regionwide protests.

“Any of such protests would be total, and shall involve the indefinite shutdown of all campuses, and occupation of major highways and state capitals across the north.”