The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has urged the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to reduce tuition fees payable in all tertiary institutions in Ekiti State-owned institutions by 60 percent when he assumes office.
The students’ body also charged him to place premium interest in youth employment to curb the incidences of robbery and crimes in the society.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti Tuesday, the newly inaugurated Chairman of the NANS/Joint Campus Committee, Ekiti axis, Comrade Musa Surajudeen, said the state-owned institutions had been churning out graduates yearly without commensurate employment opportunities.
The NANS leader asked Fayose to reduce the fees in tandem with the steps being taken by President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he said had reduced tuition fees in federal institutions.
Decrying rising unemployment and youth restiveness in the country, Musa appealed o Fayose “to make his electioneering promises to the students in all the state-owned institutions, particularly on their welfare which includes reduction of tuition fees and payment of bursary and scholarships funds promptly.
“Students deserve to enjoy comfort, because it is part of our rights. And we are demanding that hostels should be provided in all the state-owned institutions for quality service delivery and to prevent crimes and extortion of students by landlords,” he said.
Musa also canvassed for the granting of autonomy to all the state-owned institutions for them to be able to respond swiftly to situations, particularly emergency matters that can be resolved at the level of the management without necessarily bringing such to the state government.
On his commitment to combat cultism and other social vices on campuses, Musa said, “we won’t condone any illegal associations on campus. We shall also ensure that all students protest comply with the 3Cs – Consultation, Consolidation and confrontation”.
The NANS leader said he would pioneer a robust Inter-campus game to foster cordial relationship among the institutions in the axis, to stamp out inferiority complex.