Intervene to avoid further victimisation of UI students – NANS tells Tinubu

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene in order to prevent further victimization of students at the University of Ibadan.

NANS Senate President, Afeez Babatunde Akinteye, made this declaration via a statement made available to Newspot on Wednesday.

Newspot gathered that the institution recently increased the school fees of students, a decision that has been condemned by the students.

Our correspondent reports that some students of the institution were allegedly arrested for staging a protest against the increase in their school fees.

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

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

In the statement, Akinteye advised Tinubu and other stakeholders to intervene with the institution’s management to stop what he described as the victimization of the students.

He emphasised that the welfare of students should be the institution’s top priority.

Speaking further, Akinteye noted that the sudden fee increase has caused significant hardship for the students.

“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. K.O. 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.”