.. Says “no going back on reversal, issues ultimatum
The National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), has lambasted the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti for slamming outrageous tuition fees on students occasioned by geometric increase in the school fees payable in the institution .
Besides calling for reversal, NANS urged the student population of the institution to disregard the sudden increase and stop further payment until the authority complies with the directive to abolish such plans capable of immersing students into unwarranted sufferings.
The reversal order by NANS’/Joint Campus Committee, Ekiti axis, issued on Wednesday and made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, was co-signed by
its Chairman, Comr. Yekeen Toheeb, General Secretary, Com. Olumorin Folafoluwa, and Public Relations Officer, Com Ekundayo Goodluck .
Incensed by the incredibly insensitive action taken by the institution, NANS expressed strongest resentment over the sudden increase, considering the decision as “unacceptable and unjustifiable taking cognisance of the prevailing economic realities confronting Nigerian students and their families”.
Consequently, NANS demanded immediate and total reversal of the increased tuition fees, insisting that no partial reduction, temporary adjustment, or resort to cunning alternative arrangements will be accepted as a substitute for a complete abolition.
“We therefore give the management 5-working days ultimatum from the issuance of this statement to reverse the increased fees and restore the previous fee structure. Failure to comply will compel NANS JCC, Ekiti Axis, to mobilise students for lawful mass action and other legitimate forms of protest.
“The management must take responsibility for the financial implications of its decision and ensure that students are not subjected to additional hardship”.
Justifying the reversal threat, NANS clarified that the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, is a federal institution established to provide access to higher education with subsidised tuition fees, saying the reported astronomic increase of more than 15 per cent of payable fees further places additional financial burden on students whose parents and guardians are already struggling to meet the cost of living.
NANS described education as a lever between the poor and the rich in any society, saying taking access to higher education beyond the reach of the poor could spell doom for the country’s future.
The Students’ body added that increasing school fees midway when students had already applied for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) codenamed “Students’ loan” after approval had been got based on previous charges, may disrupt disbursement process by the federal government’s agency and defeat the intention behind its establishment.
“Of particular concern is the situation of students who registered under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme based on the previous fee structure. These students made their financial plans and commenced their applications on the basis of the fees then in effect.
“Increasing the fees after their registration exposes them to additional financial obligations they may be unable to meet. This undermines the purpose of a scheme intended to ease the financial burden of higher education and places vulnerable students at risk of financial hardship and possible disruption to their studies.
“The decision is even more concerning given the apparent lack of adequate consultation with the Students’ Union leadership before the increase was implemented. Students are the direct beneficiaries of the institution’s educational services and the parties most affected by its fee policies. Their interests cannot be disregarded in decisions that determine whether they can afford to continue their education”.
Boasting that the increment won’t stand, NANS stated that it won’t accept a situation in which students seeking financial assistance are confronted with additional charges after making arrangements under an existing fee structure.
“NELFUND must not become a justification for imposing unexpected financial obligations on students, nor should the burden of institutional financing be shifted disproportionately onto students and their struggling families”.
Pending the reversal of the increased fees, NANS urged the students to suspend payment and await further directives from the leadership of the association on the next line of action.
“Students are urged to remain united, disciplined, and resolute. Any attempt to intimidate, threaten, or victimise students for complying with this directive will attract an appropriate response from the student movement.
“We call on the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the management of NELFUND to take note of this development and ensure that policies intended to support students are not undermined by fee increases that place additional burdens on beneficiaries.
“Our position is clear and final: the increased school fees must be reversed. The financial circumstances of students must not be disregarded, and access to education must not be compromised by an unjustifiable increase in fees”.
