The National Association of Nigerian Students has condemned the planned increment of school fees by tertiary institutions in the country.

In a statement signed by the National PRO, Giwa Temitope and released on Saturday, NANS declared that the government’s action is “insensitive” and “embarrassing”.

The association also stressed that the government has what it takes to fund education and make it accessible, noting that the introduction of the student loan scheme is a sham and a bait to make Nigerians accept fee increments.

The association stated that there is no justification for an increase in school fees across tertiary institutions and Unity schools.

“We call on Nigerian students to brace up and be prepared for an all-round protest as was done during the prolonged ASUU strike until the Federal Government reverses this policy.

“The increment of school fees at UNILAG and the planned increment across tertiary institutions in the country has shown this administration to be a very insensitive one.

“As a matter of fact, it is most ridiculous and embarrassing that the government will be introducing fees increment without thinking of rescuing over 133 million Nigerian people from multidimensional poverty.

“Increment in fees across tertiary institutions will only complicate the poverty situation of the country and also increase the number of out-of-school children.

“As an association, we believe that the Nigerian government has what it takes to massively fund education and make it accessible. In fact, the student loan that was introduced by the Federal Government is nothing but a sham and bait to lure the Nigerian people into accepting increments in fees payable.

“Beyond the fact that the terms of the loan are ridiculous, history has taught us that not every applicant will be considered. And, even if all of them were to be considered, it still does not justify an increment in an economy that tops the unemployment index. Rather than give loans, the government must provide grants and scholarships for students.”

The West African Examination Council on Thursday refused to confirm or debunk the authenticity of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun’s certificate.

An official of the examination body, Olufemi Olaleye, on Thursday, appeared before the tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital without tendering a copy of Abiodun’s certificate.

The WAEC had earlier been subpoenaed by the tribunal to produce a copy of Abiodun’s 1978 WAEC certificate as attached to the form he filled with the Independent National Electoral Commission before the last election.

The People’s Democratic Party and its candidate in the state in the March 18 governorship election, Ladi Adebutu, had dragged Abiodun and his party, the All Progressives Congress before the tribunal on the ground that the election was rigged.

The PDP and Adebutu had also alleged that Abiodun forged his WAEC certificate.

Adebutu, in his petition, alleged that Abiodun presented a forged WAEC of June 1978 to the INEC, the 1st Respondent on July 25, 2022.

Adebutu further claimed that he had written a letter to the examination body, asking it to verify the authenticity of the certificate presented by Abiodun to it.

But, when the official of the WAEC appeared on Thursday, he was neither with a copy of the certificate, nor did he confirm whether or not the governor sat for the examination as claimed.

The call came Thursday, at Amaudo Itumbauzo in Bende LGA at the end of a One Day Seminar organised for Media Practitioners in the Southeast with the theme: “Changing The Narratives In Mental Health, The Role Of The Media”, organised by the Methodist Church Nigeria, Amaudo Integrated Mental Health Foundation, in partnership with Abia State Government, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Enugu, and Amaudo UK, on Thursday.

In a communique issued at the end of the seminar which was aimed at educating the media practitioners on basic mental health issues and their role in creating awareness for efficient and human-right-based mental health care in Nigeria, the participants called on the Federal Government to make the study of mental health and other related courses attractive to address the shortage of manpower in the mental health sub-sector.

While calling for increased budgetary provisions towards tackling mental health issues and provision of incentives for medical practitioners and Journalists in the field, the participants also called for the strengthening of relevant government agencies saddled with the responsibility of regulating drug use to restrict access to drugs, especially among the younger population.

They called on Media organisations “to design and dedicate adequate time to publicising mental health issues in their various media outfits as a way of enhancing sensitization of the public”.

They equally called on State Governments to domesticate and implement the new mental health act recently signed into law by the immediate past administration of President Mohammadu Buhari, advising that experts in mental health area should be open to discussing mental health-related issues with the media as a way of educating the public while families of victims of mental ill health should be encouraged to accommodate and assist them appropriately and avoid stigmatization.

Lack of adequate knowledge in the area as a challenge was identified, hence the need for regular seminars/training for Media Practitioners on mental health issues as a way of properly equipping them to eliminate bias in their reportage and enhance the publicity given to mental health issues.

One Lateef Popoola has told the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, is plotting to deny a former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, his (Ladoja’s) status as Otun Olubadan.

In an affidavit he deposed to before the court, Popoola, who lives in Bodija, Ibadan, claimed that the alleged plot by the Olubadan to strip Ladoja of his title started after Ladoja rejected Governor Seyi Makinde’s offer to elevate Ibadan High Chiefs to crown-wearing Obas.

The PUNCH reports that Ladoja, an Ibadan High Chief, was supposed to be elevated to the status of a crown-wearing Oba, alongside 10 other Ibadan High Chiefs by the governor on July 7, but Ladoja shunned the coronation ceremony.

The ex-governor had earlier stated publicly that he was not interested in the  elevation of Ibadan High Chiefs by Makinde, saying his ambition had always been to become the Olubadan of Ibadan.

In his affidavit filed before the court, Popoola stated, “Traditionally, Ibadan is known to have only a king, which is the Olubadan of Ibadan land (the first defendant), and all the other chiefs are cabinet members of the Olubadan of Ibadan land. It is only the Olubadan of Ibadan land that is to wear a crown, while the chiefs are identified with their beads.

“It is not within the purview of the first defendant (Olubadan) to elevate any of the High Chiefs or member of the Olubadan in Council to the status of His Royal Majesty, as traditionally, the only king known to Ibadan land is the Olubadan of Ibadan land.

“At no point in time did the claimant (Ladoja) signify interest to become His Royal Majesty or to put on a crown.

“To the dismay of the claimant, he started hearing in the media that he would be crowned on the 7th day of July, 2023, when he had never consented to the non-traditional act masterminded by the first defendant (Olubadan).

“Since he had made it known to the first defendant that the act of elevating any of the Olubadan in Council members or High Chiefs to the status of His Royal Majesty is non-traditional, the first defendant had started plotting that if the claimant refused to be crowned, he would be denied of his status as Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land and that he would not be permitted to ascend the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan land when it is his turn.”

The witness maintained that the elevation of Ibadan High Chiefs to the status of Oba was aimed at causing segregation and disharmony in Ibadan land.

Hearing in the lawsuit has yet to begin.

Source: Punch