Nigerian students under the aegis of the ‘National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have disassociated themselves from the planned protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against the recent hike in voice calls and data plan prices.
The association’s National Vice President Mu’azu Hina, flanked by the northeast zonal officials who addressed journalists in Gombe on Friday, said NANS was committed to advocating for the welfare and interests of Nigerian students, not a protest that may not directly benefit its members.
“Our primary focus is on addressing the myriad challenges facing students in Nigeria, including poor funding of education, inadequate infrastructure, and insecurity.
“Therefore, we cannot be part of a protest that may not directly benefit our members. Furthermore, we are concerned that the NLC protest may not be well-thought-out and may not achieve its intended objectives,” he said.
Meanwhile, the association drew the attention of the federal government to the deplorable state of roads in the northeast region, particularly the Numan-Yola-Gombe Road, which has claimed several lives, including those of students.
He said the problem affects the lives of his members and urged the federal government to take immediate action to repair these roads, ensure the safety of students and other road users, and provide adequate funding for road maintenance.
The association emphasised that “this is a matter of life and death, and not a partisan issue”.
