Protest: NANS tackles DSS, to storm UNILAG tomorrow

The National Association of Nigerian Students has cautioned the Department of State Services not to discourage students from expressing their right to protest, calling it a widely recognized human right.

Giwa Temitope, the union's National Public Relations Officer, was responding to the DSS assertion that some politicians were mobilizing student leaders for violent protests against the Federal Government over socioeconomic issues.

"Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic-based associations, youth, and disgruntled groups for the planned action," said the security agency's spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, on Monday.

PUNCH Online reported last week that a group called Student Solidarity Group Against price Hike announced plans to protest a price hike at the University of Lagos on September 6, 2023.

In a statement issued to our correspondent on Tuesday, the NANS PRO said the student body would storm UNILAG for the demonstration and urged the DSS not to violate students' rights.

"It is quite embarrassing that the DSS has devolved into the Federal Government's propaganda arm, raising false alarms and even interfering in affairs that have nothing to do with their line of work," Giwa added.

"As an association, we maintain that we are dissatisfied with the way Nigerian society is run, particularly in terms of arbitrary fee increases across our tertiary institutions, with the University of Lagos serving as a model."

According to NANS, the failure of the UNILAG management to honor the agreement established at the August 2 meeting with student leaders "forced the student body to fix a date of action at the university for September 6, and the protest will continue until the management reverses the hike."

"Students are therefore enjoined to come out en masse and join the protest for an immediate reversal of fees at the University of Lagos."

In July 2023, the UNILAG administration raised fees for students studying medicine from N19,000 to N190,250, while students enrolled in courses requiring laboratory and studio work would pay N140,250.

The management cited "prevailing economic realities" as the basis for the increase.