The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, has criticised student union leaders who allegedly support tuition fee increases in exchange for personal benefits, insisting that Students' Union Government (SUG) executives must prioritise the welfare of the students they represent.
In a statement addressing the role of student leaders during disputes over tuition fees, Akinteye urged students to organise collectively and use peaceful means to express their opposition when school management announces an increase without adequately considering their interests.
He also raised concerns about alleged agreements between some SUG Presidents and institutional managements, claiming that certain student representatives had supported fee increments because of promised increases in their allowances or other personal financial benefits.
NANS President Calls for Peaceful Student Action Against Fee Increases
Akinteye maintained that students should respond collectively when faced with tuition fee increases that affect their welfare.
He encouraged students to mobilise through their unions and make their concerns known to school authorities through peaceful demonstrations and other organised forms of protest. He also called for SUG Presidents to lead such engagements and represent the concerns of the student population.
The NANS President argued that decisions involving students' financial responsibilities should not be made without considering their interests and giving them an opportunity to express their views.
Allegations Against Some SUG Presidents
A major concern raised in the statement was the alleged involvement of some student union leaders in agreements with school managements over proposed tuition increases.
Akinteye claimed that, in some institutions he had engaged with, certain SUG Presidents had already agreed to support fee adjustments after being promised higher union allowances or dues.
He further alleged that some student representatives had been offered personal financial incentives to secure their cooperation.
These allegations were presented as observations from his engagements with institutions facing tuition fee disputes. The statement did not identify the universities or individual SUG leaders involved.
SUG Leaders Reminded of Their Responsibility to Students
The NANS President emphasised that the purpose of a Students' Union Government is to represent the interests of the student body, particularly when decisions by institutional authorities affect their welfare.
He maintained that elected student representatives should not use their positions to negotiate personal advantages at the expense of the people who entrusted them with leadership.
According to his position, SUG Presidents have a responsibility to remain accountable to students and ensure that their actions reflect the mandate received during elections.
Call for Accountability in Student Union Leadership
The statement also highlights the importance of trust between students and their elected representatives. When union executives support decisions that affect students without properly representing their concerns, it can undermine confidence in student leadership.
Akinteye's message was directed particularly at SUG Presidents, reminding them that their positions come with obligations to the students they serve.
He concluded with the expression "Aluta Continua", reaffirming his position on student advocacy and the responsibility of union leaders to defend students' interests.
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