Education

NANS to blame for hike in school fees in Universities –Professor Voncir

Published

2 years ago

3 December 2023

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Professor Nanmwa Voncir of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, Bauchi, has slammed students union representatives in the country for failing to stop hike in school fees in public universities.

The former Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) Chairman, ATBU Branch and Zonal Coordinator, Bauchi Zone, made the remark in Bauchi during presentation of ASUU scholarship awards to 19 students in the zone.

Voncir also criticized the federal government’s claim that there was no money to fund education.

The majority of students from poor background stand the risk of dropping out of school following recent increase in school fees by managements of public universities.

The removal of subsidy on fuel has led to massive hardships in the country with students of tertiary institutions hardest hit.

Voncir made the remark during the occasion of the award .ot the indigent scholarship to University undergraduate students in Bauchi Zone held at ATBU, Bauchi, on Saturday.

The President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke,, represented by the Vice Chairman, Associate Professor Christopher Piwuna, presented the beneficiaries with the indigent undergraduate scholarship awards ranging from N200,000 at the National and N100,000, depending on the strength of each branch, held at ATBU, Bauchi, on Saturday,

The gesture was parts of efforts to ameliorate the hardhips among undergraduates, argued that representatives of students lacked courage to stop injustices metted against students.

He urged the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) and other students bodies in the country to team up with ASUU in the struggle to ensure that Universities were properly funded and to prevent policies that are detrimental to students welfare.

He said the students representatives’ compromising attitude have led to introduction of anti-students policies by the federal government and managers of public tertiary institutions.

The scholar believed that the federal government often exploit the weakness of students’ representatives and so when it comes to the issue of funding education, often makes excuses but spends billions on politics and other frivolities.

“How can you say that there is no money to fund education yet you have money for the gullible activities of our leaders?” he asked

“Recently they are buying cars for elected members of the National Assembly at N160 million per person.

“Somebody stole money in this country, we were able to raise alarm only on N109 billion and they say the man is asking for plea bargain.

“Plea bargain means that you give part of the money to government and hold part of it.

“And the man has been given a chieftaincy title. That is our country. And nobody talks.”

He was disappointed that the leadership of students have sold out in the struggles hence the recent arbitrarily increase in school fees of universities a across the country.

Voncir recalled that in 2021, ATBU wanted to increase charges or school fees ASUU as usual opposed the idea while the leadership of the students union shamelessly supported the move.

“I was asked by ASUU Chairman ATBU branch to represent the Union in a committee by the University management.

“At the inauguration I told the Vice Chancellor that forever ASUU will never stand by any increase in school fees if your aim is to increase,” he said.

“The Vice Chancellor said the fees may even be reviewed downward that was why the committee was set uWhen we started the student president that was inside that committee said let’s increase this school fees but let’s give the students time.

“I called him an idiot. The President of the student Union of the school. I, a professor standing here saying I oppose increase in school fees and you a student standing here and saying you want increase but should be given time?

“I expected him to say students will not take any increase in school fees and sit down. That is the kind of leadership that we we have in the various campuses as students’ union representatives.

“Student unions do elections with guns. You go to NANS conventions and you see guns everywhere as if we have war situation. That is what Nigeria students are.

“In this school (ATBU) in 1984 and till 1990 when I graduated, students were the ones leading.

For any day in ATBU that there was no electricity, we proclaimed that there would be no test the following day for anybody.

“Students go to class and any lecturer that set test students would not write the test.

“If there is no water then we are not going to class. Today there is no water you see students carrying water roaming around the streams, wells to find water.

“You want ASUU to come and fight that there should be water for you? You want ASUU to come and fight that there should be light? Nigerian students wake up Parents wake up”