Nigerian students postpone planned nationwide protest and give reasons

• The joint national leadership held consultations with stakeholders, government officials and well-meaning Nigerians
• Say that discussions and consultations with the government and stakeholders will continue
  

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The leaderships of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) and the National Association Nigerian of College of Education Students (NANCES) on Saturday cancelled their planned protest.

WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that the trio had earlier called for a National Day of Protest for Nigerian Students commencing on Monday, July 29, 2024, against the failure of the Federal Government in addressing the difficulties facing Nigerian students amid the current economic crisis.

However, in a renewed outcry, the student leadership suspended and postponed the planned protest.

The latest decision was conveyed in a statement on Saturday and jointly signed by Comrade Obaji, Marshal, National President, NAUS; Ambassador Shuaib Ishaka Yahaya, Senate President, NAUS; Comrade Ridwan Opeyemi Munirudeen, National President, NAPS; Comrade Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope, Senate President, NAPS; Ambassador Comrade Eegunjobi Samuel Oluwaseun, National President, NANCES; and Senator Kur Isaac Ushahemba, Senate President, NANCES.

The students’ union said the reason for the postponement was that the joint national leadership had held consultations with stakeholders, government officials and well-meaning Nigerians, adding that in these consultations, they had been assured of a prompt response to their demands.

In addition, the student union noted that, given the nationwide protests planned by several agencies in August and the concerns raised in consultations with security agencies, it would be dangerous to participate in protest actions at such a critical moment.

The statement reads, in part: “You will recall that a few days ago the United National Leadership informed the public of our decision to hold an organized protest and peaceful demonstration with the aim of drawing the government’s attention to the economic difficulties and the high/rising cost of living in the country, which are particularly felt by students and youth of the country.

“We are conscious of our rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and have decided to exercise them shortly.

“The current economic situation caused by the rising cost of living, the increase in the price of raw materials, the increase in the price of oil and electricity, the insecurity and the inadequate financing of our institutions, which currently affects more than 80% of the country’s population, is particularly felt by young Nigerians pursuing various academic degrees in higher education institutions.”

“Furthermore, the inability of governments at the federal, state and local levels to provide adequate immediate and long-term relief measures, especially for Nigerian students, to cushion the impact of the high cost of living is quite disappointing and also raises concerns among the student movement in the country that there appears to be a lack of initiatives and ideas on the most effective approach to sustainable economic recovery and growth.”

“However, the joint national leadership was inundated with calls which led to marathon consultations with stakeholders, government officials and well-meaning Nigerians on the issue of our planned protest action.

“You will also be interested to know that these consultations have provided assurances of rapid implementation of the demands made:

“Similarly, the Joint Leadership is aware of the fact that a national protest is planned for August. Given the concerns expressed in consultations with security agencies, it would be dangerous to lead a protest at a critical moment like this as it could be hijacked. Since the Joint Leadership is the only known organization protesting against the possibility of all damages falling on us, the Joint National Leadership hereby postpones its planned protest.

“This postponement also marks a distancing of the associations from the organized 10-day protests, with a call to all university members to stay away from the protests.

“For the record, the joint leadership is withdrawing its protest and postponing it until further notice while discussions and consultations with the government, stakeholders and the association continue.