By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – A pan-African students movement, the Progressive Students Movement (PSM), has given the Kaduna State Government a 14 day ultimatum to reverse increment in school fees in all state-owned tertiary institutions.
President of PSM, Mr Bestman Okereafor, gave the ultimatum in a statement issued to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
Okereafor described the increase in the school fees of the state’s tertiary institutions as ill-timed and retrogressive in nature, considering the current economic realities of the country.
He stated: ”The attention of the foremost pan-African students movement body, PSM, has been drawn to a retrogressive decision of the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to unjustly increase the school fees of state owned institutions.
”Information at our disposal reveals that a student of College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kafanchan, was allegedly shot dead by security operatives during a peaceful protest against the planned hike in their tuition fee.
”We hereby give the state Governor a 14 day ultimatum to reverse all increments in state owned institutions in Kaduna State.
”PSM is calling for the immediate removal of the Provost of the College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kafanchan, Prof. Alexander Kure, as well,’’ he said.
On re-arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu, he said that the group believes that the re-arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) was a clear note of warning for persons seeking the division of the nation.
He added: ”We are appealing for calmness across all regions.
”As a responsible organisation, we firmly stand for and believe in the unity of Nigeria.
”We are passing a vote of confidence on his Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his far reaching steps aimed at addressing the security challenges facing the nation.’’
On security, Okereafor urged state Governors to equip security agencies in their respective states with latest digital gadgets such as drones basically to ”help flush out bandits and state enemies’’.