The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has vowed to moblise its members to protest at the University of Lagos tomorrow over the hike in school fees across the country after shunning the Department of State Services threat.
NANS further warned DSS not to prevent students from exercising their rights to protest, insisting it is a globally recognised human right.
Recall that the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya had on Monday claimed that some politicians were assembling student leaders for violent protest against the Federal Government over “sundry socio-economic matters”.
According to him, “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.
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,” the secret police said.
However, reacting on Tuesday the National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Giwa Temitope, insisted that its members will protest tomorrow, September 6, 2023, stressing that FG has increased the school fees to 400 per cent but refused to increase the wages and salaries of our parents.
“We are mobilising for a protest against the fee hike in UNILAG which happened on August 2. And what we are fighting for is a total reversal of the increment in school fees for the students.
“There is a saying that the police is your friend. And moreso, we are not entering the school, we will be at the frontage of the school in solidarity for students and their parents. The government has increased the school fees to 400 per cent, but not increased the wages and salaries of our parents.
“Do you want the students to drop out of school and engage in cyber crimes? Or do you want the ladies to be sleeping around with men to make money? The reason we clamour for this in federal universities is that they are meant to be less expensive.”
Olorunfemi Adeyeye added that “the Student Solidarity Group Against Fee Hike seizes this moment to call public attention to plans by the State Security Service to turn our peaceful, and legitimate protests into an arena of violence, and a theater of war.
“The fact that it is the same Security Service that violated the sanctity of the court and transformed it into a battlefield in their desperate attempt to defy a court order hardly surprises us.
This incident took place only a few weeks ago. It is undeniable that the DSS is notorious for its lawlessness and its inclination to incite chaos. Forthwith, we insist that our right to protest is constitutionally protected.”
