NAU VC to address the Protesting Students Tuesday

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Vice-Chancellor Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone FAS will on Tuesday address the protesting students of the institution over school fees hike.

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Fedrick Odibo, who addressed the students on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, said institution’s fees structure had been pulled down, while discussion with the students union government was ongoing.

He said, “We’ve heard your agitations, and they’re okay. You have freedom of protest and that’s why we’re handling you as our children.

“The VC is not around, but I’m in touch with him. He suggested he addresses you via zoom, that’s the essence of technology.

“We’ve pulled down the fees structure of the university, and we’re discussing with the students union government.”

The students had on Monday protested alleged hike in school fees by the university management.

The students who marched round the school environment with placards, also blocked a portion of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway to register their displeasure.

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The institution, through its Acting Head, Information and Public Relations, Chika Ene, had on Saturday, refuted alleged increase in school fees of returning students of the institution for the 2020/2021 academic session.

It urged students, staff and the public to dismiss the report as fake, targeted at causing unrest and destabilizing the peace being enjoyed in the University.

But the students, during the protest, insisted that the increment was true.

One of them, a third-year student who preferred anonymity, said they decided to embark on the protest as they could not bear the increment any longer.

“When they increased the fees to over N50, 000 last year, we were asked through the SUG executive to bear with the school, promising they will revert to the initial fee of about N26,000.

“But to our greatest surprise, instead of asking us to pay the old fees as promised, we saw additional amount to what we paid last year.”

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But addressing the students in front of administrative block, the Chairman, Anambra State Axis, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Peter Onyenweife, said his executive would never be party to any form of increment of school fees.

He appealed to the students to ensure the protest was peaceful and within the confines of the campus environment.

He said, “Any student protesting outside the gate is on your own. Anybody can release gunshots from anywhere, and once that’s done, we’re all gone, and the the aim of the protests is defeated.

“I’m standing here as your representative. We can never be a party to any form of increment. That’s why we’re here to plead with you…our voices must be heard.

“If these same group of students were the same students that gave me support in 2019, I want to assure you that I won’t for any reason support anything that will hurt you.

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“I want to put my integrity on the line, in all honesty, the VC is currently in Abuja. But the DVC, academics who’s the second in command will brief us on his behalf.”

On his part, the Dean, Students Affairs, Prof. Nonso Achebe called on the students to suspend the protests, assuring them of a town hall meeting with the VC on return.

“You’ve registered your displeasure, please let’s meet at the round table for negotiations. The DVC has addressed you and I’m lending my voice as the number one student.

“Let every fray nerves be calmed so we don’t spoil the good work we’ve started. Let’s broker an agreement. Tommorow by 11am,” he stated.

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