The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has warned the Department of State Services (DSS) not to hinder students from exercising their rights to protest, saying this is a universally recognized human right.
The National Public Relations Officer of the union, Giwa Temitope reacted to the statement made by DSS that some politicians were mobilising student leaders for violent protest against the Federal Government over the socio-economic issues in the country.
This comes after previous reports that a group, Student Solidarity Group Against Fee Hike (SSGAFH), revealed that it would protest against fee hike at the University of Lagos on Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Supporting the move, the NANS PRO, said in a statement, on Tuesday, that the student body would be storming the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for the protest and urged the DSS not to infringe on the rights of students.
“It is quite embarrassing that the DSS has derailed to become the propaganda arm of the Federal Government, thereby, raising false alarms and even interfering in affairs that do not in any way relate to their line of profession,” Giwa expressed.
The association expressed grievances over the country’s state of affairs, especially on how fees were increased in tertiary institutions.
“As an association, we maintain that we are not satisfied with how the Nigerian society is being run, most especially, as regards arbitrary fee increment across our tertiary institutions, with the University of Lagos being a model.”
NANS said the failure of the UNILAG management to honour the agreement reached at the meeting with student leaders on August 2, compelled the need for the strike action.
“The protest will hold till the management reverses the hike. Students are therefore enjoined to come out en masse and join the protest for the immediate reversal of fee at the University of Lagos.”
In July, 2023, the UNILAG management increased fees from N19,000 to N190,250, for students studying medicine, while for courses that required laboratory and studio use, the students were to pay N140,250.
The management cited “prevailing economic realities” as reason for the hike.
Top Society had earlier reported that the DSS had issued a warning against any protest in tertiary institutions. In a statement on Monday, the security service said it had uncovered plans by certain politicians across the country to stage violent protests by mobilising student leaders, and ethnic associations.
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The service spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said the planned protests were meant to discredit the Federal Government (FG) and plunge the country into anarchy, over what it described as socio-economic matters. Afunanya also said those plotting the protests had been identified, adding that they were being monitored.
“The Department of State Services hereby informs the public that it has uncovered plans by some elements in parts of the country to stage violent protests to discredit the Federal Government and security agencies over sundry socio-economic matters,” the statement read.
“Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic-based associations, youth, and disgruntled groups for the planned action. Meanwhile, the service has identified the ring leaders of the plot as well as sustained monitoring around them in order to deter them from plunging the country into anarchy.”
Afunanya had called on heads of tertiary institutions to discourage their students from engaging in any activity that could disrupt peace in the country, urging Vice Chancellors and heads of tertiary institutions to prevent any form of protest.
“In view of this development, University Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Tertiary Institutions are advised to discourage their students from engaging in acts capable of derailing public peace.
Also, parents and guardians are enjoined to admonish their children and wards respectively to shun the lure of participating in inimical behaviours or conduct against law and order, ” he urged.