JUST IN: NAUS Vows To Resist School Fees Hike In Delta Varsities, Declare 30-Day Protest, To Storm Govt. House Monday

By Daniel Dafe

National Association of University Students (NAUS), South South, has described the “hike of tertiary institutions fees across Delta State owned universities as high level of extortion,” just as they vowed to resist the move.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Comr. Obaji Marshall, Vice President ,South – South (Niger Delta) and Comr. Geobamz Soeze,
NAUS CMC Chairman Delta State and made available to Oasis Magazine, the body added that a 30-day protest will commence tomorrow in Asaba.

According to the statement, the action tagged: ‘Save Education in Delta State’ is against “the insensitive and outrageous hike in school fees across Delta State owned Universities; Delta State University Abraka and Delta State University of Science and Technology Ozoro respectively.”

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Continuing, they said the hike “is a wrong step at this particular point in time where the economy is not suitable for the masses,” saying that they “find it unacceptable and a barbaric act which may erupt protest or rancour and break out of law and order in our society.”

While appealing to students to remain calm and law abiding, they urged them “to completely reject the hike of fees.”

“Without fear or favour we clearly state that the hike of fees is an insensitive act by the management.

“On this note, we’re set to embark on a one month protest within Delta State, starting from the State Capital Asaba.”

They gave the venue as Government House Asaba and time 9am.

See their demands below-

1. That the implementation of the proposed new fees of Delta State University of Science and Technology Ozoro be suspended and be reviewed downward to a total amount not higher than the sum of Seventy Thousand naira only (#70,000)

2. That the increment in the school fees of Delta State University Abraka be reversed to status quo with immediate effect

3. That any other Universities be it State or Federal Institutions planning any hike in fees should abdicate such intentions as any action will be oppose by University Students.

4. We call on Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa to Immediately call the Commissioner for Higher Education to order for failing his responsibilities to uphold the Smart and Stronger Delta Mantra of His Excellency Governor Okowa towards University Students. Under his watch as a Commissioner for Higher Education, Students schooling at Delta State owned Tertiary Institutions were forced to pay Covid 19 Levy and now we’re facing Hike in School Fees.

5. NAUS as an organization with the sole aim of protecting and defending the interest of University Students will ensure that this high form of Extortion shall be resisted.