NANS urges Tinubu to step into UI students’ ordeal

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), on Wednesday, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing victimisation of students at the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan.

NANS Senate President, Afeez Babatunde Akinteye, made the call in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan.

It would be recalled that UI recently increased the school fees.

A few weeks ago, the university declared a three-week break for the students, just hours after they protested against the fee hike.

Akinteye, however, described the three-week break as an attempt to silence the student union at the institution.

In the statement, Akinteye urged Tinubu and other stakeholders to intervene with the institution to stop what he described as the victimisation of the students, adding that the welfare of students should be the university’s top priority.

Akinteye lamented that the sudden fee increase has caused significant hardship for the students.

The student leader said: “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) strongly condemns the oppressive and anti-student actions of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale.

“His administration’s decision to hike tuition fees, while ignoring the cries of students, has brought untold hardship to thousands of Nigerian students.

“This three-week forced closure is nothing but a calculated attempt to silence the students and weaken the Union’s fight for justice. We commend the efforts of the Student Union and NELFUND in providing financial support to students.

“We demand that the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders intervene immediately to end this unjust treatment of students. The interests of the students should always be the priority, not the personal gains of a Vice Chancellor who has long lost his way.”