THE (Sundiata Scholar) – unions affirmed that the development has led to poor socioeconomic welfare for students, a loss of interest in academic activities and fall in grades, increase in crimes and criminality, and increase in violence on campuses and their environs.
The National Association of University Students (NAUS), in collaboration with the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) and the National Association of Nigerian College of Education Students (NANCES), has announced a joint mass protest to address the prevailing economic challenges facing the nation.
The students’ unions have announced that the mass protest will begin on Monday, July 29, 2024, and will continue indefinitely until their demands are addressed.
According to the unions, they have repeatedly attempted to engage with the government through various channels, including media outreach, but have yet to receive a response or see any meaningful action taken.
In a joint memo addressed to all Nigerian students, the National Presidents of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Nigerian College of Education Students (NANCES), and National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) outlined the reasons for the upcoming protest. The key grievances include rising cost of living, increased cost of commodities, higher petroleum prices, elevated electricity tariffs, insecurity and inadequate funding of educational institutions.
These challenges, affecting over 80% of the population, disproportionately impact young Nigerians pursuing academic qualifications in tertiary institutions.
The memo, signed by Comrade Obaji U. Marshal (NAUS), Amb. Comr. Eegunjobi Samuel Oluwaseun (NANCES), and Comr. Ridwan O. Munirudeen (NAPS), was obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday.
According to the memo, the protest is to drive home their demands to the federal and state governments, to influence innovation, conceptualization and implementation of plans for the alleviation of the hardship suffered by Nigerian students.
The unions affirmed that the development has led to poor socioeconomic welfare for students, a loss of interest in academic activities and fall in grades, increase in crimes and criminality, and increase in violence on campuses and their environs.
The memo reads in part, “The leadership of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), in conjunction with the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), and the National Association Nigerian of College of Education Students (NANCES), extends sincere greetings to Nigerian Students covering the aforementioned bodies, as well as, its affiliated associations across the country.
“The purpose of this memo is to prepare the minds of Nigerian students across tertiary institutions in the country, on the collective decision made by the leadership of the aforementioned associations, after due and painstaking consultations on the way forward for Nigerian students.
“The present economic quagmire occasioned by the rising cost of living, hike in cost of commodities, hike in petroleum price, hike in electricity tariff, insecurity, poor funding of our institutions which presently affects more than 80% of the population in the country, is felt most by young Nigerians studying for various academic qualifications across tertiary institutions.
“This development has led to poor socioeconomic welfare for students, a loss of interest in academic activities and a fall in grades, an increase in crimes and criminality, and an increase in violence on campuses and their environs.
“Furthermore, the inability of federal, state and local governments to provide adequate immediate and long-term palliatives, especially for Nigerian students, to cushion the effect of the high cost of living, is rather disappointing and also raises the alarm of the student movement in the country, of a seeming lack of initiatives and ideas on the most effective approach to sustainable economic recovery and growth.
“Hence, the trio of NAUS, NAPS and NANCES, representing the voices of millions of Nigerian students emphatically condemns the lackadaisical attitude of the Government and declares a National Day of Protest for Nigerian students starting from Monday, July 29th, 2024 till further notice having communicated the government through various means including media but nothing has been done.”