The National Association of Nigerian Students has warned the Department of State Services not to interfere in planned protests by students, as their rights to protest was a fundamental human right.
The National Public Relations Officer of the union, Giwa Temitope, was reacting to the statement made by DSS that some politicians were mobilizing student leaders for violent protest against the Federal Government over socio-economic issues.
The DSS had raised alarm over plans by Politicians to mobilize student bodies to stage violent protest on the same day the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal; PEPT, has set aside to deliver judgement.
“Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilizing unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic-based associations, youth, and disgruntled groups for the planned action,” the spokesperson for the security agency, Peter Afunanya had stated on Monday.
The NANS PRO, in a statement sent to Journalists, said the student body would be be at the University of Lagos for the protest and urged the DSS not to infringe on the rights of students.
, “It is quite embarrassing that the DSS has derailed to become the propaganda arm of the Federal Government, thereby, raising false alarms and even interfering in affairs that do not in any way relate to their line of profession.
“As an association, we maintain that we are not satisfied with how the Nigerian society is being run, most especially, as regards arbitrary fee increment across our tertiary institutions, with the University of Lagos being a model.” Giwa said
NANS said the failure of the UNILAG management to honour the agreement reached at the meeting with student leaders on August 2, “forced the student body to fix a date of action at the university for September 6 and the protest will hold till the management reverses the hike.
The UNILAG management in July 2023, increased fees from N19,000 to N190,250, for students studying medicine, while for courses that require laboratory and studio, the students were to pay N140,250.
