JUST IN: FG directs Vice Chancellors to protect students and staff amid planned hunger protests

The Federal Ministry of Education has directed all Vice Chancellors in universities across the country to guarantee the protection of their staff, students, and infrastructures in their respective institutions.

The directive was contained in a circular on Monday, signed by the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Chris Maiyaki ahead of the proposed nationwide protest slated for August 1, 2024, over economic hardship in the country.

Maiyaki who acknowledged the right of citizens to peacefully protest also expressed fears about the potential for the protest to snowball into violence.

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The circular titled: “Urgent Arrangements for the Security and Safety of University Staff, Students and Property During the Proposed Nationwide Protests”, followed the directive of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

It reads, “The Minister of Education has directed that the attention of Vice-Chancellors of all Nigerian Universities be formally drawn to the plan by unknown groups to embark on nationwide protests.

“The Federal Government is not unaware of the right of any Nigerian to peaceful protest, but is concerned about the safety of staff, students and university property should there be any protest action.

“Consequently, the Honourable Minister has directed that Vice-Chancellors of all Nigerian Universities should take proactive steps to ensure the security and safety of the university community, including staff and students.”

NUC also recommended that Vice-Chancellors issue specific statements to assure the staff and students of their safety.

The circular also advised that students remain on campus to focus on their academic pursuits to avoid exposure to any potential danger during the planned protests.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration has said it is committed and determined to address the challenges faced by young people in Nigeria through youth-focused initiatives being implemented in the country.

Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande who stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, called on youth in the country to shelve the proposed nationwide protest proposed to hold in August, as government is doing all it could to address the economic challenges to put the country on a sound footing.

The statement was signed by Director, Press and Public Relations, Omolara Esan, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

Olawande called on the youth to embrace dialogue and utilise all channels of engagement with the government to table their demands that are yet to be met.

According to him, the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not only addressing challenges being faced in the country but continues to expand opportunities for the youth and other categories of Nigerians to thrive.

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He said: “There are many ways we can register our displeasure as youth to the government, but a protest that has the potential to snowball into destruction is not an option. We have our whole future ahead of us. Hence, anything that hurts Nigeria affects us more than anyone else”.

He noted that the major interventions of the Federal Ministry of Youth have been guided mostly by the yearnings and agitations of the youth while also highlighting various youth-focused initiatives of the Federal government, including, the “Young and Secure” initiative, a campaign aimed at ensuring that the issue which led to the 2020 #EndSars protest do not re-occur; the “Youth Desk” which offers a platform for young Nigerians to table their complaints and concerns in a Coordinated manner.

The Minister stated: “Personally, I believe we need to work to bring the government closer to the youth, to make it easier for the youth to feel and experience the impact of government. This is the reason I have priotised an apolitical engagement, by visiting more than 13 States so far.

“Also, I am aware that a major challenge for our generation is unemployment, which is worsened by the kind of mismatch that exists between the skills that majority of us possess and those that employers in today’s labour market require. Hence, we initiated the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA) to upskill the youth and connect them to employers.

“For the Youth who have opted for self-employment, the government has made preparations to fully support their aspirations through the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF). Also, through grants and Cash transfers, President Tinubu has Provided N50 billion as nano-grants of N50,000 each to 1,300 small businesses in all the 774 local government areas.

“There is also the Consumer Credit Scheme initiated by President Tinubu to enable Nigerians to have access to goods and Services, with Payment Spread over time to make life easier for all and sundry.

“In the political sphere, the President has opened up the political space like never before, appointing arguably the largest number of young people to top positions in government, while also delivering local governments autonomy to democratise political participation at the grassroots level.

“Yet, these are only some of the over 34 key interventions the president has made so far”, the minister stated.

While stating that the President is wholly concerned about how to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for low-income families, the minister said the recently approved student loan and the Consumer Credit Scheme are some of the key interventions in this regard.

“All the initiatives we are working on may not have addressed all the problems, but I am confident that President Tinubu would continue to expand opportunities for the youth and other categories of Nigerians to thrive.

“I urge my fellow Youth to be patient and utilise all channels of engaging with the government to table their demands that are yet to be met. The doors to my office are opened at all times to receive your complaints, grievances, and suggestions. Protest which in the long run will muddle up the issues we are fighting for would not advance our cause,” the minister stated.

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