Nigerian Students’ Union Warns Colleges Against Tuition Fee Increases Amid Student Loan Scheme
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has sent a stern warning to tertiary institution heads against implementing drastic tuition fee hikes, following the Federal Government’s decision to establish the National Education Loan Fund Scheme (NELFUND) aimed at providing student loans.
The warning comes after NANS’s 74th Senate sitting in Kano, where a statement was issued by Comrade Okunomo Adewumi. According to the statement, any institution found increasing tuition fees under the guise of the student loan scheme will face the wrath of NANS and decisive action by the student body.
“We will not hesitate to mobilise our members and take action against such institutions,” the statement reads. The leadership of NANS is also ready to wage war against any school that increases tuition fees under the guise of the student loan scheme, it added.
Furthermore, NANS has called for an immediate and drastic reduction of tuition fees across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to alleviate the financial burdens faced by students. The student body has urged its members to remain calm and await the Federal Government’s response to their demands, warning that if the government fails to address their concerns, they will not hesitate to mobilise and take action.
The student body has also acknowledged the right of Nigerians to exercise their civil rights and will not stand in the way of peaceful protests, but has warned that attempts to sabotage the efforts of those calling on the government to take necessary action will not be tolerated.
As the student loan scheme comes into effect, the warning issued by NANS is a clear message to institutions to prioritize the welfare of students and ensure that the scheme does not become a tool for exploiting their financial situation.
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