Students are apprehensive of resumption after the elections as the cash crunch is yet to abate. ESTHER OGUNTUASE(AAUA) reports
With the naira scarcity yet to subside, despite the ruling of the Supreme Court that old notes should co-exist with new ones as legal tender till December 31, 2023, students are disturbed at the prospect of resumption after the conclusion of elections last Saturday.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) had earlier postponed the resumption of all higher institutions to March 14 due to the scheduled date for the Presidential, Governorship, House of Representative, and State House of Assembly elections.
Owing to the postponement of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections from March 11 to 18, some universities have announced a new resumption date for academic activities.
Students dread thinking of resumption now. Reason? Scarcity of naira persists. Sadly, bank networks are discouraging,while Point of Sales (POS) operators continue to reap from the problem.
Apprehension on resumption sums up the mood of students
Emmanuel Anthony, a 200-Level Economics student at Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, decried the inconvenience that the naira scarcity would bestow on students when they return to school.
According to him, it was a terrible experience for him last semester as he struggled to get cash from banks and Point of Sales (POS) terminals.
“The other day, I had to borrow cash because the bank transfer wasn’t going through. Some students were in lecture rooms the other day before the end of the semester and couldn’t even think straight,” he said.
He noted that the current cash crisis would be detrimental to students’ retention and living conditions when they resume.
Mohammed Taoheed, a law student at Usmanu Danfodiyyo University Sokoto (UDUS), said resuming school during this period would leave a bitter taste in the mouth of students because they need to purchase basic things.
He also suggested that school management can assist students by ensuring price regulation and control within the campus so the skyrocketing prices of foodstuff can be in check.
Monyei Chukwueloka Daniel, a Civilaw student at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said students had to start the food ratio 0:0:1 while some were stranded in school due to the scarcity of the naira note.
“In school, banks have already installed many Automated Teller Machines at different spots for students. If the school can liaise with these banks to put money in the machines and set N5,000 withdrawal limit by enforcing it with security personnel, it would go a long way in reducing the pain on students,” he said.
Adesida Taiwo, a fresh graduate of Political Science at Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), said: “Being a student at this point isn’t an easy one. Not having enough naira at the host community POS terminals is worrisome. Returning to the same cash scarcity students left before going home for the election is far worse. I hope the CBN will make cash available to banks and also for banks to work on their network services,” he said.
He urged school authorities to discuss with banks on campuses to improve their network services.
Henry Olufemi, a student of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) said the scarcity of the naira notes has resulted in fraudulent activities which pose a lot of fear in marketers due to the “fake transfer” invented by bad citizens.
“The naira is competing with the naira itself in the sense that I had to withdraw N10,000 with N3000. So the POS guy withdrew N10,000 from my account and gave me just N7,000 out of my money. What I needed to buy was even more than the actual money, now removing N3000; this was emotional damage,” he said.
On the flipside, Olufemi said the naira scarcity has taught him how to judiciously use his resources and save for the future.
A student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO) Owo, Ondo State, who pleaded anonymity, also agreed that the recent development is an inhibitor to students’ movement and living conditions.
She bemoaned the sudden high charges on keted withdrawals by POS agents and the unstable network for bank transfers.
However, she remains hopeful that things will get better in the coming days.
Boluwatife Adedokun, a Mass Communication student at Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA, said:
“I went out the other day and instead of spending N200 to and fro for the bike, I begged the bike man to collect N500 just because I wanted to make a transfer, spending double the money. I was looking for where to withdraw but no POS attendant here could give me any cash. When we get to school, it won’t be an encouraging situation,” she said.
She urged the government to handle the situation very well to ease the hardship on students and other citizens.
Another student, Adekunle Johnson, noted that the current naira crisis might stop students from acquiring the necessary materials needed for their studies.
“The education system in Nigeria has always been stressful, so this is like adding fuel to fire. I hope Student Unions will come up with policies that will be favourable to students and market women as inflation is unavoidable. And most of these market women believe that every student is rich,” he said.
He suggested that schools should assist students by discussing with the POS operators on campus to reduce charges on withdrawals.
For Zainab Adewale, a student of English at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, the situation should not be a hindrance to students when they resume as they could adapt to the situation.
She said: “My school semester calendar has been reviewed three times already due to one break or the other, even the students who are affected by the naira scarcity won’t pray they review the calendar again because they also want to resume to finish up their semesters and move into what’s next on the agenda, either to graduate or move to another session. Students are tired of going around the circle without moving into the next phase. So it is left for the students to know how they can joggle, endure this crisis and find their way back to their campuses.”
Zulikha Olawale, a Microbiology student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said students staying off-campus would face serious problems because of fares as commercial drivers do not accept transfers.
She expressed her fears of resuming school without access to cash,saying it would be a “terrible experience”.
Irawooluwa Akintunde, an Educational Management student at UNILAG said: “I went to the bank today and couldn’t even get the old note despite the announcement from the Central Bank and Supreme Court.”
She said resuming school during this crisis would be stressful and many students would also avoid classes due to the scarcity of the naira notes.
Lecturers react,proffer
solutions
A lecturer at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ekiti State, Benson Ojedayo, expressed his displeasure over the recent development, adding that it could be a hindrance to students returning to their campuses.
“Most of the individual transport companies don’t have a bank account and those who do might collect extra charges which is a big challenge and more burden for students,” he said.
He advised students to take care of themselves as adults and suggested that school authorities can assist students by controlling banks in their premises as well as shuttle buses between town and school.
Another lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Dr Umar Sani Bebeji, said the situation which is a cash confiscation policy has taken a toll on all Nigerians.
“I am a witness to how difficult it was for students to get home as soon as the NUC and ABU gave the directive that universities should close. Some students had to board lorries and trailers to get back home,it is very bad,” he said.
He added that due to the non-availability of cash despite the order from the CBN, arrangements should be put in place to assist students.
“The state could provide buses to students who are indigent so they can be transported to their schools. Banks should also prioritise accessibility of cash to students to facilitate their resumption, help the staff of universities and assist small businesses,” he said.
He suggested that schools can provide welfare and transport schemes as well as liaise with banks on their campuses.
He said the Student Union of each university can also discuss with the transport unions of their respective states so students can be conveyed to their campuses without hassles.
Nevertheless, students look forward to a stress-free environment as well as improved living conditions.