[EDITORIAL] NAIRA CRISIS: First-Degree Economic Murder of Students

By NAMACOS EDITORIAL BOARD

“A luta continua; vitória é certa", a term that isn't flowing from the mouth of the students, as if the old naira notes crisis has locked the mouth of student activists across the country. 

It was jubilation into the year 2023 from various students who have in one way or another other moved to a new level academically, the jubilation would have been shortening if any students foresee the current crisis, as it is not only financially draining, but it is also sucking one’s mental ability.

Various students across the country resumed back to school to encounter unexpected hikes in almost all parts of the institution; school fees, handouts, annual dues, cyber cafe charges and many more. 

Using Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, as a case study, even the Students Union Government who are meant to find a way to ease this financial burden for the students also increased their annual dues from #250 to #500, what a year! , students are jumping from fry pan to fire, and there is no saviour.

As if that was not enough, the Central Bank Of Nigeria issued the newly designed naira notes of #500, #200 and #1000, respectively. Design as we all know is made up of catchy and beautiful things, the case is different in this Naira Design, as it has brought hardship to the students rather than any beautiful development.

In an institution, which is full of middle-class and lower-class people who are struggling to be educated, with their hard-earned money comes an outrageous POS fee, which insisted on collecting 20% out of their hard-earned money before they can withdraw in cash. This is coupled with a heartbreaking increment in the prices of handouts, cyber cafe charges and various annual dues. The country/ government is taking from the students in the most saddening way, in which students are enjoying little or nothing in return. It is such a hard time for all students across the country as every academic agent on campus is sucking the life out of their lives.

See it this way, students have been locked into a suicidal societal prison this year and if history should be taught in schools, students should be pronounced as heroes for surviving this financial first-degree murder. 

After paying 20% to withdraw in cash in which you will be given the old naira notes. Traders, bike riders, pharmacies and others will still reject the old money which has become a predicament in the life of people. This doesn't calculate with the wicked house rent fee which various house agents are charging on campus; how should we qualify a house with no physical development that still increased house rent from 30k to 80k and many more that are critical enough to turn students into homeless people? 

The new naira note is scarce, meanwhile, the old naira note is also expensive and at the moment no longer acceptable, a student who is surviving on #3,000 weekly now have to pay #600 for charges and in the end, survive on #2400. Do you expect any student to have a nice sleep, remembering that they will pay #1,000 to withdraw #5,000? Even if education cannot be free, can it at least be easier for ordinary Nigerian citizens to acquire? 

Gradually, the struggle is biting harder and harder, students are dying financially, and total concentration can no longer be focused on academics, students hearts are shattered, while many are currently regretting choosing education as the best legacy.

At the moment, every student has been sentenced to this suicidal economical prison, meanwhile, the total years to be spent in this prison is unspecified, and various struggles that will join the queue are also unknown but till then there is no vitória é certa. 

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