The National Association of Nigerian Students NANS has appealed to the Governing Council of the University of Maiduguri to reverse the outrageous increase in registration charges for both returning and new students.
The National Vice President of the Association, Comrade Sulieman Sarki stated this at a media briefing in Maiduguri.
Comrade Sarki said the hike would have a negative impact on students from the North East region who have been severely affected by 13 years of insurgency.
He said NANS has issued a week’s ultimatum for the management of the institution to rescind its decision or face a massive protest across the country.
Comrade Sarki remarked that the University of Maiduguri had increased the registration fee by 50% expressing concern that the outrageous fee could result in a huge dropout of students.
“The recent hike in registration charges by some northeastern universities does not only come to us as a surprise but as an affront to the war against insurgency, such that students who are unable to pay the new fees might end up becoming drop out and this will add to the rising number of youth restiveness in the region ” Comrade Sarki lamented.
The Vice President urged students not to pay the new registration charges but to await the outcome of NANS strategic action plan as the Association had commenced consultation with management of the University of Maiduguri.
He called on stakeholders in the education sector across the country to intervene by prevailing on the governing councils of Federal Universities to rescind their decision.
The Governing Council had on first December 2022 approved the review of registration charges for undergraduate and postgraduate students following rising cost of teaching and learning materials. (RN)
