FCT, Abuja – Following the recent increase in tuition fees in some universities, Nigerian students in the 19 Northern states have threatened to stage a protest.
Recall that some Nigerian universities across the nation declared a 200 percent increase in tuition.
This was contained in a statement the coordinator of coalition of northern groups Emuseh Gimba gathered by Punch in Abuja.
He said the group would take serious measures should the government fail to reverse the hike.
“We find it regrettable that as a result of these poorly designed policies, hunger is stalking millions of homes, inflation is making life difficult by the day, people are losing jobs, businesses are closing down infrastructure is decaying.
“Young Nigerians are losing hope of being employed, hospitals are full of people who suffer various illnesses, and cannot afford the fees.
They expressed worry that what it called “some insensitive and indifferent authorities of northern Nigerian universities” had already announced incredible increments in their tuition.
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“Those in this category according to the group, are, the University of Maiduguri, Federal University Dutse, and the Federal University Lafia.
“As is the tradition of the CNG, we took time to understudy the situation and assess the inherent dangers the hike in tuition would pose to Nigerians and especially to the northern region which has been abandoned to the mercy of rampaging banditry and insurgency.
“Specifically, the northern region is currently being held ransom by bandits that operate with ease and at will in all the seven states of the North-West taking total control of land borders, highways, forests, and in some cases railways and airports.
“Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents continue to wreak havoc in the Northeast while farmers/herdsmen clashes escalate in the North-Central.
“We are convinced therefore that this hike and other potentially damaging policies are part of a calculated design to continuously weaken the North educationally and pauperise it economically.
“It follows that the North would feel the pain of the hike in tuition more than other parts of the country because of the current challenges and limitations faced by the region around security and unforgettable poverty.
“Added to these is the pervasive harsh economic reality resulting from the removal of electricity subsidy and subsequent hike in electricity tariff, worsened by the scarcity of petrol and uncontrolled willful hike in prices of the commodity where and when available,” the students observed.