The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for an immediate review of the budgetary allocation to education which it described as grossly inadequate.
Speaking with Tribune Education on Tuesday, the Coordinator of Zone D of the association, Comrade Ogunsola Okikiola, said in view of the problems experienced in the sector in the previous year, the N398.01 billion allocated to education would further deepen the decay and the crisis in the sector.
According to Okikiola, there were no indications that the numerous challenges currently facing Nigerian students would be addressed by the budget.
He said the current economic situation in the country had ensured that many students cannot fund their education, and asked the Federal Government to recruit experienced hands to drive the nation’s economic agenda in the New Year.
He said: “The zonal, state and local leadership of our association during our meeting late last year at Oyo State College of Health Technology, Ibadan, Nigeria, to consider the demands of the entire students of the zone, especially the unending economy hardship as it affects us as students in all aspects, and how far the Federal Government has gone in fulfilling the promises it made to us, as students.
“We are also concerned that since the removal of subsidy on petrol, the government is yet to roll out what it called ‘palliative measures.’
“Our New Year demands at this time are simple. We want government at all levels to make education a priority.”
A statement released by the association identified other demands: “increment in the minimum wages of workers; proper funding of education; addressing the exorbitant increment in tuition fee on different public tertiary institutions across the country; granting and provision of scholarship to indigent and deserving students; and creating full and gainful employment opportunities for unemployed graduates.”
Also listed in the statement are: “easing the transportation system for students across campuses; development of all the existing local refineries; addressing political victimization of union leaders and proscription of Students Union on our campuses; and addressing the anomalies in the power sector and exorbitant charges by electricity distribution companies.”
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