The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the College of Nursing Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi has distanced itself from the planned protest by some students over increase in tuition fee of the institution.
The school management had increased the tuition fee from N95,000 to N580,000, leading to protest by some students of the institution.
But the SUG President, Comrade Chisom Chukwuelue, said the students’ body knew nothing about the protest.
Chukwuelue said the body had already reached the management and had already received a favourable answer for a roundtable discussion to facilitate adjustment.
She said in the statement:
“The SUG leadership formally communicated the concerns and
apprehensions of students to the Management of NAUTH in order to seek clarity and possible reconsideration regarding aspects of the newly introduced fee structure.
“We took the responsible steps to engage the appropriate authorities of the institution.
During this engagement, the management acknowledged the concerns presented by the Students’ Union and assured the leadership that the matter had been taken seriously.
“We were informed that a panel would be constituted by the Hospital Management and the Board of the College to carefully review the issues raised regarding the fee adjustment and make appropriate
recommendations.
“In the interest of responsible leadership, institutional respect, and constructive
dialogue, the Students’ Union Government accepted the assurances given by the management and resolved to allow the constituted panel and the
appropriate administrative processes the opportunity to review the matter.
“Unfortunately, before the outcome of this review process could be communicated, some students, overwhelmed by the emotional and financial implications of the development, took to protest in an attempt to express their grievances.”
The SUG President assured that the union remains committed to protecting the interest, welfare, academic stability and collective interest of students, while maintaining respect.
She expressed the hope that the constructive engagement with the management would address issues affecting students.
“Leadership, in moments such as this, requires both empathy for the concerns of students and the wisdom to pursue solutions through lawful and institutional processes,” she added.
Chukwuelue appealed to all students to remain calm, orderly, and patient as the panel constituted by the Hospital Management and the Board of the Collage carries out it’s review of the matter, and pledged to monitor developments closely and maintain active communication with the management to ensure that the concerns of the student body received the necessary attention.
