The National Association of Nigerian Students, on Wednesday, demanded the sacking of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Melee Kyari, for his “incompetence and ineptitude in handling the Dangote Refinery and obvious conflict of interest in the fuel racketeering scheme.”
The student body also demanded an immediate reduction in the price of petrol, threatening it would go on strike if the demands were not met by the Federal Government.
NANS made the demands at its 74th Senate sitting in Kano, where it also warned tertiary institutions against arbitrary increases in tuition fees on the back of the rollout of the student loan by the Federal Government.
In a Wednesday statement signed by its Senate President, Okunomo Adewumi, NANS said its 74th Senate sitting was convened to engage “in a thorough deliberation on the precarious state of our nation.”
“We express our profound dismay and disillusionment with the current economic trajectory, which has precipitated unprecedented hardship and suffering for Nigerian citizens.
“We call on the government to immediately reduce the cost of petrol. Failure to comply will leave us no option but to mobilise and take to the streets in protest.
“We demand the immediate sack of the NNPC GCEO, Mr. Mele Kyari, for his incompetence and ineptitude in handling the Dangote refinery and obvious conflict of interest in their fuel racketeering scheme.
“We also demand that the CBN Governor takes immediate action to stabilise the naira-dollar exchange rate, bringing it down to a maximum of N600 per dollar within 30 days. Failure to comply will result in calls for his removal from office,” the student body said.
The NAN Senate said it had taken note of the agitation for a mass protest against the government in view of the hardship in the land. It, however, urged its members to remain calm and await the Federal Government’s response to its demands.
“While we understand the sentiments driving the proposed protest by well-meaning Nigerians, we urge our members to remain calm and observe the government’s response to our demands.
“We will not hesitate to mobilise if the government fails to address our concerns. We also acknowledge the right of Nigerians to exercise their civil rights and will not stand in the way of peaceful protests. However, we will not condone any attempts to sabotage the efforts of Nigerians who are calling on the government to take necessary action.
“Also, on the planned nationwide protest, the Senate has mandated the NANS President, Comrade Pedro Obi, to immediately consult all relevant stakeholders and SUG across the country and declare to the world on or before 31st July 2024, NANS’ stand for Nigerian students, whether to join the nationwide protest or not.”
NANS said tertiary institutions should not on account of the rollout of the student loan embark on an increase in school fees, warning that such an action would be met with protests.
It said, “The leadership of NANS is ready to wage war against any school that increases tuition fees under the guise of the student loan scheme.
“Any institution found doing so will face the full wrath and consequences of NANS. We will mobilise our members and take decisive action against such institutions,” the union said.
The Federal Government had last week commenced the disbursement of student loans to beneficiaries.
