In a decisive move, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone C has issued a 14-day ultimatum to Nasarawa State University (NSUK), calling for the immediate reversal of the newly introduced five thousand naira damage fee and the reinstatement of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).
The association’s coordinator, Daniel Friday Egga, made the announcement in a statement, expressing strong disapproval of the recent fee hike. According to Egga, the fee is “unnecessary and insensitive,” given the current economic challenges facing students and their families across the country. The mandatory charge has sparked widespread concern, with many students questioning its rationale and impact on their already strained finances.
NANS Zone C has taken their grievances to key stakeholders, including the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, the State House of Assembly, the university’s Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, and local security agencies. Their message is clear: the damage fee must be revoked, and the suspension of the SUG should be overturned. The association labels the SUG suspension as “undemocratic and unjust,” emphasizing that student leadership plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy academic environment.
Should the university management fail to meet these demands within the allotted 14-day period, NANS Zone C has threatened to escalate the situation. The association is prepared to take “further action,” including direct confrontations and potentially relocating their secretariat to the university grounds. In the meantime, they have advised students to withhold payment of the school fees, urging them to stand in solidarity until the matter is resolved.
This latest development marks a significant shift from earlier in the year when NSUK students pledged to pursue dialogue and avoid protests. However, the introduction of the controversial damage fee and the continued suspension of the SUG appear to have led NANS Zone C to adopt a more aggressive approach in defending students’ rights.
