As Nigerians grapple with high cost of living for the second consecutive month since the removal fuel subsidy, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has called for reduction in school fees in tertiary institutions nationwide to cushion the effect.
NANS Coordinator of North Central Zone, Shedrack Anzaku, said the association frowns at all forms of school fees increment because of the hardship across the country.
Anzaku spoke in Abuja on Thursday with newsmen at the official declaration of Deniran Rioborue as aspirant for NANS National President.
According to him, the rate of dropout is increasing and what the association expects is school fees reduction, not increment.
“We find it hard to understand the increment because in spite of the removal of subsidy, diesel is what schools use mostly and the price of diesel has reduced so we expect reduction in all ramification.
“We also kick against hike in school fees on account of the students’ loan Act because the Act is meant to assist students to get proper education. We have written to NUC to call on schools to reduce school fees else we will protest in our large numbers,” he said.
The student union coordinator said the association will embark on campus tour to talk to Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts to reduce school fees.
Speaking about his ambition to contest for NANS leadership, Rioborue unveiled a seven-point manifesto titled “Renewed NANS23” saying that his aspiration was to begin a new progressives chapter to uphold the core values upon which NANS was founded.
He pledged to provide necessary support to the Senate to have the NANS constitution reviewed to meet the modem day reality, adding that the target of this agenda is to restructure NANS for an efficient administration and effective operations which will advance our course to build synergy among all arms of NANS.
