NANS Condemns Federal University Wukari Fee Policy, Demands Reversal of Decision

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the decision of the management of Federal University Wukari to direct students unable to pay their school fees to defer their semester or academic session, describing the policy as anti-student and contrary to the principles of accessible education.

In a statement, the national leadership of NANS expressed strong opposition to the directive, which reportedly warned that students who fail to pay their tuition fees or obtain formal approval for deferment risk forfeiting their semester and entire academic session.

The association described the decision as insensitive, arguing that it could deny thousands of students access to education due to financial difficulties.

NANS said the policy contradicts the objectives of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) initiative introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support students facing financial barriers in accessing higher education.

The student body argued that many affected students had already applied for NELFUND and that the institution would receive the required tuition payments once the funds were released.

According to NANS, it is unfair for students to be prevented from participating in examinations when they have secured funding arrangements through the government-backed loan scheme.

The association further claimed that more than 5,000 students had been affected by the decision, describing the situation as a threat to students’ academic progress and welfare.

NANS stated that it would not accept any action that prevents affected students from writing their examinations, warning that if the affected students are denied participation, the examinations should not proceed for other students.

The association called on the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Wukari to immediately reverse the decision and allow all affected students to complete their registration and participate in their examinations.

It added that failure to address the matter would compel the NANS leadership to relocate its National Secretariat to the institution to continue its protest against what it described as anti-student policies.