UNILAG fee hike: NANS warns DSS against intimidating students during protest

 

 

The National Association of Nigerian Students has warned the Department of State Services (DSS) against intimidating students during the protest slated for September 6 against the University of Lagos tuition fee hike.

 

The warning came on the heels of a statement released by the DSS where it alleged that some elements were recruiting student leaders to discredit the federal government and security agencies.

 

The Security agency warned Vice-Chancellors and University heads to discourage their students from any act capable of derailing public peace.

 

However, responding to DSS’ statement, Giwa Temitope, NANS spokesperson, warned the DSS against intimidating students during the protest.

 

The spokesperson in a statement made available to PoliticsNow argued that it was within the constitutional rights of students to protest .

 

“We read with utter displeasure a statement issued by the Department of State Security through their spokesperson alleging of a plot by some politicians to mobilise students leaders for protest as regards the terrible socio-economic conditions the country has been plunged into,” a statement by NANS read.

 

“In the statement, the DSS was making efforts to deter students from joining protest which is an inalienable rights of everyone. As a matter of fact, it is internationally recognised and domesticated with the provision of Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which provides for the right to peaceful assembly and association. Students, and indeed the Nigerian people must be free at all times to protest whatever they might tag misgovernance of the affairs of the country.

 

“It is quite embarrassing that the DSS has derailed to the propaganda arm of the Federal Government whereby they raise false alarms and even pokenose in affairs that do not in any way relate to their line of profession. It is indeed saddening that the DSS is today a poster child of unprofessionalism. But, it is not a strange trend.

 

“As an association, we maintain that we are not satisfied with how the Nigerian society is being run most especially as regards arbitrary fee increment across our tertiary institutions with University of Lagos being a model. Indeed, the failure of the management of the University of Lagos to honour the agreements reached at the meeting with them on Wednesday, August 2nd where they agreed to crash the new fee structure and refund students that have paid such has forced the National leadership of the association to fix a date of action at the University of Lagos for September 6th and the protest shall hold till the management reverses the hike.

 

“And, as against the propaganda being spread around by the Police authority in Lagos for some sort of permit before a protest could be held, It shows a lack of understanding of the Nigerian law by the rank and file of officers in the Lagos State Command most especially the highest hierarchy there.

 

“Students are therefore enjoined to come out en masse and join in the protest for the immediate reversal of fee at the University of Lagos.”