The students under the umbrella of the Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) and some civil society groups have embarked on a peaceful protest against fuel hike in Oyo State.
This is coming as their reaction to the recent increase in petrol and electricity tariff across the country, demanding a total reversal of the prices.Bearing placards with various inscriptions expressing their dissatisfaction and anger, and marching through Bodija and environs, the students condemned the recent increases, noting that it is not in the best interest of Nigerians. They then urged the Federal Government to revert the policies in the best interest of the country.
As they ended the protest procession at the Federal Secretariat, where they addressed the press on the reason behind their agitation, a representative of the students threatened that the they would shut down the economy is there’s no reversal after the protest.“We say no to fuel hike, we say no to increment in electricity tariff and other increments that affect Nigerian students and the masses. We have over 200 polytechnic campuses in Nigeria that are at home and angry that schools are closed. If there is no total reversal soon, students across the country will shut down the economy”, Olalere Opatunji, NAPS representative told Channels Television.
On the other hand, the National Coordinator of All Workers Congress and immediate past chairman of Trade Union Congress in Oyo State, Andrew Emelieze, said that the hike is coming at a time when Nigerians are yet to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is now a culture in Nigeria that every month we must increase the pump price of petroleum products, just like we have increased the price of electricity tariff”, he began.“The Nigerian people are just coming out of a pandemic situation where lives have been made miserable for workers; private schools have not been open, hoteliers are not working, marketers have not been able to work this period, and what the President gives us as a gift, is to increase the pump price of petrol illegally.
“We are giving until Monday between the NLC, TUC and the Nigerian government, to settle whatsoever they have and revert the price of petroleum products. If they don’t do that, Nigerian people are called upon to come out to the street and take their destiny in their hands, that is our resolution,” Emelize added.Photos Credit: Channels TV
Bearing placards with various inscriptions expressing their dissatisfaction and anger, and marching through Bodija and environs, the students condemned the recent increases, noting that it is not in the best interest of Nigerians. They then urged the Federal Government to revert the policies in the best interest of the country.
“We say no to fuel hike, we say no to increment in electricity tariff and other increments that affect Nigerian students and the masses. We have over 200 polytechnic campuses in Nigeria that are at home and angry that schools are closed. If there is no total reversal soon, students across the country will shut down the economy”, Olalere Opatunji, NAPS representative told Channels Television.
