The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu on a media report credited to him that the Nigerian government runs a free-tuition university education, saying such a claim is deceptive and misleading.
The students’ body gave this position in a statement made available to newsmen by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Giwa Temitope, on Wednesday.
According to NANS, for President Tinubu to have claimed that public universities in Nigeria are tuition-free when various university authorities are increasing obnoxious levies and charges is merely a dubious attempt to conceal the real picture and the extent of the crises the Federal Government and authorities of tertiary institutions have driven the students into.
“So, the argument made by the President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, on his behalf, is most embarrassing.”
The association mentioned that “The adequate funding of education at all levels is the responsibility of government and it must remain so.
“So, for no reason should government shift such responsibility to students or their poor parents.
“That is why we’re now demanding the immediate and unconditional reversal of fees increment by universities that have done so.
“If federal universities are tuition-free, what about the sundry payment students are being charged?
“As a matter of fact, if truly President Tinubu is interested in ensuring that every Nigerian regardless of economic status has access to quality education as being painted by Mr Dele Alake, his administration must invest substantially in the sector.
“Increasing fees payable by students will automatically deny thousands of them access to education and we, as an association have resolved to oppose it.
“Students loan which Mr. Alake is fronting is far from the way forward but grants, aids and scholarships are desirable.
“To us, the student loan scheme is an attempt to turn students into life-long debtors in exchange for a service which ought to be provided for by the government.
“How many graduates are economically engaged years after graduation? It is only a few.
“So, it is callous to make fresh graduates debtors even before they commence their careers.
“We’re very convinced that the students’ loan scheme is an effort in the wrong direction.
“The conditions attached to the loan are bogus and almost impossible to meet by any student.
“The policy appears on the paper as a loan for all, but in reality, it is for no one.
“So, we demand that the loan scheme should be abandoned, and the funds be injected into the education sector.
“This government should not pull down completely, Nigerian public education.
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