The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has asked the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, to resolve all outstanding issues before the resumption of full academy activities at the Federal College of Education, Technical (FCET), Lagos, which re-opened on Monday after a two-month closure.
In a letter issued by Comrade Alimi Lekan Idris and Comrade Abefe Abdulrazak Yusuf, chapter chairman and secretary, respectively, the Lagos Joint Campus of NANS said it could not guarantee peace on campus without the resolution of issues which forced the institution to shut its doors early August.
Recall that the college was hurriedly shut when the crisis on leadership, which lingered for over three months, degenerated into violence as some workers and students reportedly attacked the Chairman of the Governing Council, Olatunde Adenuga and other council members, vandalising cars and properties.
But NANS is spoiling for another fight on the N10,000 levy imposed on all students without identifying and prosecuting the ring leaders among staff and students who destroyed five vehicles and vandalised the official quarters on campus.
The letter read: “The Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been made aware of a recent decision by the college management to impose a blanket charge of 10,000 Naira on all students. This fee is said to be in response to damages sustained during the recent upheaval on campus, which stemmed from students’ expressions of their concerns regarding the college’s leadership.
“This development has come as a significant shock and is widely seen as both unfair and insensitive, especially given the current economic climate. Families across Nigeria are grappling with soaring living costs, and many are struggling to afford basic needs, including food and essential supplies.”
