The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone E (North East), has issued a scathing condemnation of the Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola, following the institution’s imposition of a N3000 levy on students — a charge the school claims is to cover costs associated with a recent protest.
The controversial levy, branded by the institution as a “protest revenue,” was introduced after students staged a peaceful demonstration three weeks ago over the lack of basic amenities, particularly access to clean water.
SaharaReporters had on April 28 reported that students of Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola, locked all entrances to the school in protest over the ongoing power and water cuts.
The outages, which had lasted about a week, caused significant disruption on campus.
In a press statement released on May 17, Comrade Umar Afkawa (popularly known as Babartov), Coordinator of NANS Zone E, described the move as “unjust and exploitative”, accusing the school management of punishing students for demanding their rights.
“This action is deeply troubling,” Afkawa said. “Rather than address the root causes of the protest — which is the absence of water and poor welfare — the management has chosen to scapegoat the very students they’ve failed.”
He further called on the Adamawa State Government to launch an immediate investigation into the matter, demanding that the Polytechnic’s Rector and his team be held accountable for what he termed “administrative negligence.”
“Students should not bear the financial consequences of institutional failure,” the statement continued. “The imposition of this levy is a gross violation of students’ rights and a betrayal of public trust.”
This latest outcry follows widespread criticism of the Polytechnic’s handling of student welfare issues.
SaharaReporters, in its coverage of the initial protest on April 30, highlighted the dire situation on campus, reporting that students had been living without water for weeks, forcing many to fetch water from nearby streams.
The report also detailed how peaceful protesters were allegedly met with intimidation by school security personnel.
According to Afkawa, “Students said they were tired of the persistent water scarcity and neglect by the school authority, which has failed to address their basic needs for years.”
NANS Zone E emphasised that it is closely monitoring the situation and may mobilise students if no action is taken.
The group urged all students to remain peaceful and law-abiding, promising that their grievances would not go unheard.
“We will not hesitate to act in defense of our members if justice is not served,” Afkawa declared.
The Adamawa State Polytechnic management has yet to respond to the students body amid the growing backlash.