NANS Warns Against ‘Reckless And Insensitive’ School Fees Hike In Delta

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS Zone B) South-East and South-south chapter, has warned against what it called ‘reckless and insensitive’ hike in school fees across Delta state owned universities.

This followed alleged school fees hike in Delta State University, Abraka and Delta state University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.

A statement made available to newsmen in Warri, on Thursday,  NANS Deputy Coordinator in the zone, Oghale Emeka Rex, warned against possible mass protest by students over the development.

The statement was copied Governor of Delta State, Chairman, House Committee on Education, Commissioner for Higher Education, Vice Chancellor DELSU Abraka, Vice Chancellor DELSUSTH Ozoro, Director, DSS Delta Command,Commissioner, NPF Delta Command, NUJ Delta State Chapter and NANS Revolutionary President.

They called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, to intervene to avoid breakdown of law and order at the institutions’ campuses.

“This letter has become necessary after obtaining and critically analyzing the details of the fees to avoid outright anarchy, breakdown of law and order in the affected campuses and eruption of marathon protests in the state.

“We therefore, in swift response to the agitations of the affected students and prospective students compelled to resist the hike in the interest of the general public, the parents and the students.

“We dare state that this action by the respective managements is to say the least reprehensible, callous, insensitive and repugnant to natural justice”, the statement said.

NANS, consequently demanded the immediate suspension of the implementation of the proposed new fees of Delta state University of Science and Technology, Ozoro and a downward review to a total amount not higher than the sum of N70,000.

They also demanded the immediate reversal to the status quo the increment in the school fees at Delta state University Abraka for peace to reign.

They warned any other state owned institution in the state planning any hike in school fees, to jettison the plans ‘as any action not in the interest of the Nigerian students would be met with an unimaginable resistance and uprising’.

While drawing the attention of the Governor to the humongous fees slammed on students, they sued for his intervention ‘to ameliorate the suffering and burden of parents who are also supposed to be beneficiary of your prosperity for all Deltans agenda’.

Saying that the situation was unjustifiable and totally unacceptable, NANS accused the institutions for duplicating items the students are made to pay just to shore up the school fees

NANS said as an organization with the sole aim of protecting the interests and welfare of the Nigerian students, they would not “spare no option in ensuring that this gargantuan extortion is resisted if not reversed within the next 48 working hours”.