Students Warn Against Subsidy Removal, Demand Reversal Of Tuition Fees

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has warned that the removal of fuel subsidy will be disastrous and a calamity too unimaginable for Nigerians to comprehend.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, NANS vice president, National Affairs, National Secretariat, Comrade Victor Ezenagu also called on the university management to reverse the increase in tuition fees in some public universities.

The students’ body lamented that the effects of the school fees increment has led to over 30 per cent students becoming drop-outs and contributing negatively to the society, adding that the consequences of subsidy removal will be dire.

They also expressed disappointment over World Bank offer of $800 million grant to Nigeria to reduce the sufferings of the people when government removes the subsidy, while urging the government to look forward towards building new refineries as oil is being discovered in Kogi, Bauchi and Borno states.

It, therefore, demanded immediate reduction of all increased school fees, saying if education cannot be free at least it must be affordable to all Nigerians. This is even as they demanded for increased budgetary allocation to education by 26%, increased funding for TETfund, UBEC and other education funding agencies as well as increased welfare package for both academic and non-academic staff.

“In profiling our demands NANS want to appeal passionately to the conscience of our school authorities to please temper justice with mercy and return all school fees to status quo pending when a proper budget for education will be in place.

“The effects of the school fees increment has led many of our students to go astray and made many parents undergo undue hardship, embarrassment and loss of honesty in order to meet up with the challenges, over 30 percent of our students have become drop-outs contributing only negatively to the society,” they said.

On subsidy removal he said, “It will be disastrous and a calamity too unimaginable for us to comprehend. Nobody will be safe anymore because the frustration and hunger that will persist and befall many homes will make our people do the unthinkable in order to survive, please note ‘a hungry man is the devil’s tool.’

“The government must be patient and not in a hurry to remove subsidies. Adequate measures should be put in place before the removal, we are very particular about the functionality of our refineries, it’s most unfortunate that up till now according to reliable sources only one refinery is working even far less than its capacity about 30% optimum production.”

NANS called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of national interest sack the minister of finance for her inexperience, insubordination and incompetence.