Fuel Price Hike: NANS Demands 100% Increase In Student Loan Upkeep
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to increase the student loan upkeep from N20,000 to N40,000 per student to cushion the impact of rising cost of living on students.
NANS President, Comr. Lucky Emonefe, at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, said the increase in student loan upkeep would provide much-needed financial relief to students struggling to make ends meet.
At the press conference, NANS expressed deep concern over the current economic hardships caused by recent fuel price hikes, foreign exchange instability, and the skyrocketing cost of food, which have left many Nigerians, including students, grappling with severe economic challenges.
While acknowledging that reforms of the Bola Tinubu administration are being implemented for the greater good of citizens, NANS called for phased implementation to allow Nigerians breathing space.
“We urge the President to consider the plight of ordinary Nigerians as these reforms take shape. We respectfully ask that these policies be rolled out in phases, to give citizens the breathing space to adapt and survive,” said Emonefe.
The association also resolved to send a 10-man committee to interface with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to address fuel scarcity and the recent fuel price hike.
The committee will represent all structures of NANS and will work to highlight possible solutions to address the economic challenges.
In addition to the phased rollout of reforms, the students’ body called for more visible benefits amidst the current hardship and advocated for the dismissal of non-performing ministers.
“Many ministries have been passive, indifferent, and silent, failing to communicate their plans or progress to the Nigerian people. It is time for a more dynamic and accountable government,” NANS stressed.
“In addition, we urge the government to prioritize the reduction of excessive government spending. At a time when Nigerians are being asked to make sacrifices, it is only fair that those in power lead by example.”
NANS maintained that dialogue remains its primary approach to addressing the grievances of Nigerian students and citizens.
The association stressed that protests should only be a last resort and not the first option: “Dialogue is the first and most prudent step. We will seek avenues for constructive engagement with the government and other stakeholders to address our grievances. Protests should only be a last resort, not the first option.”
In an appeal to security agencies, NANS called for decisive action against any individual or group attempting to disturb the peace of the nation.
“Let us state this unequivocally, NANS has not made any declaration for a protest at the national, zonal, or JCC levels. Should the need arise for such action, we will communicate it clearly and in coordination with all NANS structures. In the meantime, we are giving a clear directive to security agencies to deal decisively with any individual or group that seeks to disturb the peace of the nation under the guise of NANS,” it said.
