Subsidy removal: ‘There’s hardship’ — NANS threatens protest over tuition hike

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for a reduction in school fees across tertiary institutions in the country to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on students.

On May 29, President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy in his inaugural speech.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Shedrack Anzaku, the association’s coordinator for north central zone, said the hike in tuition by some institutions has led to an increase in dropout rate.

“What the association expects is school fees reduction and not increment because the rate of dropout is increasing,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“We frown against all forms of school fees increment because at a time like this when there is numerous hardship across the country.

“We find it hard to understand the increment because in spite of the removal of subsidy, diesel is what schools use mostly and the price of diesel has reduced so we expect a reduction in all ramifications.”

Anzaku said the leadership of the association has written to the National Universities Commission (NUC) to prevail on tertiary institutions to reduce school fees.

He, however, commended the federal government for initiating the student loan act to ease the financial burden on young Nigerians that crave education.

Anzaku said the student body will hit the streets to protest if institutions refused to reduce their tuition.

“We also kick against hike in school fees on account of the Students’ Loan Act because the Act is meant to assist students to get proper education,” he said.

“We have written to NUC to call on schools to reduce school fees else we will protest in our large numbers.

“We are going on campus tour to talk to vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts to reduce school fees.”