By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North-Central, in Minna)
Niger State House of Assembly (NSHA) member representing Agwara Constituency, Hon. Ahmed Bello, on Wednesday, joined students of the state owned, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, in solidarity to protest against increase in tuition and other payable fees.
Agwara who is also not happy that the state Legislature was not ready to give listening ears to the students who besieged the Hon. Usman Jikantoro House of Assembly, joined the students at the entrance gate of the Assembly Complex at about 11 am Thursday.
The peaceful protesters carrying placards with different inscriptions; 'we do not want to drop out of school, reduce the fees', 'affordable education is our right', 'no retreat, no surrender', amongst others, demanded to see the Speaker but were not allowed entry into the complex.
The students however threatened to forcefully shut down the University within 24 hours if their demands of reversing the hike were not met as they insisted on remaining at the entrance gate to ensure that nobody goes in or out of the complex until their demands which includes shutting down the registration portal and reduction of the school fees are met.
Hon. Ahmed Bello, who is the Minority Leader of the Assembly also wore a face cap with IBBU inscription, told journalists and passers-by that he is a post-graduate student of the institution and also feels the pains caused by the increase in the fee like other students.
He later presented the demands of the protesting students to the Deputy Speaker NSHA, Hon. Jibrin Ndagi, who received the protesting students for onward dispatch to the Speaker who is said to be out on another assignment.
The House of Assembly Minority Leader said he decided to join the students in solidarity because as a post-graduate student, he also feels the impact of the tuition fees hike and therefore wants the Legislative Assembly to intervene in the overall interest of the state.
Ahmed Bello said the State House of Assembly has the powers to address the fees hike as well as forestall possible impending crisis threatening the peaceful academic environment of the state owned tertiary institution.
Also speaking, representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Ishaq Madaki and Abdulsalam Abdulganiu, pleaded with the Assembly to intervene in reducing the fees as failure to do so will lead to lots of students dropping out of school.
"The economic situation is becoming so harsh and unbearable that most parents and guardians are finding it extremely difficult to cope with, hence the need for the Legislative arm of government to intervene.
Responding to the demands, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Jibrin Ndagi, assured that they will intervene by calling for a tripartite meeting between the students, school management and the State House of Assembly, with a view to finding a common ground on the issue.
Recall that IBBU, Lapai, last month, announced over 100 percent increases in tuition fees, but after protests and complaints, the state government waded in by announcing a reduction of the payable fees.
While returning indigene students pay N50, 000 as against N67, 929, new students indigene N95, 675 as against the initial N129, 675 proposed by the management of the state owned university.
The state government then also approved that non-indigene returning students pay N100, 000 as against the N117, 325 earlier increase as announced and freshers told to pay N170, 000 as against the N201, 217 proposed by the school authority. NNL.
