The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to various state governments owing their workers to ensure they pay them before the commencement of the new government.

The students body noted that the non-payment of the workers’ salaries has brought hardship to students whose parents are mainly civil servants.

In a statement issued and signed by its Vice President, National Affairs, Gbenga Ayenuro, many students are now finding it difficult to feed themselves and also pay up their fees at their various campuses due to the fact that their parents have been living without salaries.

NANS called on the Federal Government to intervene and address the current financial crisis confronting the nation.

The statement reads, “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) cries out over inability and negligence of some state governors to pay salaries of their workers. The non-payment of salaries and allowances have really brought hardship and sufferings to average Nigerian Students who are from average families and salary-dependent homes. Most students cannot pay their tuition fees due to this present situation.

“A larger percentage of Nigerian Students depend on the salaries income of their parents or guardians to survive and pay necessary fees in their respective citadel of learning. The current situation has made sustenance hard for many of them due to non-payment of their parents salaries.

“Workers’ salaries are not a privilege but mandatory because it is the sweat of their labor for which they have worked so far for. It is disheartening, pathetic and sad for some state Governors to owe six (6), five (5) months salaries. We have states like Osun, Oyo, imo and others.

“The non-payment of salaries and wages is also coming at a time that the tuition fee and other related fees in institutions are becoming more outrageous and expensive. Students nowadays are now running helter-skelter for the payment of their fees, thereby encouraging them to do menial jobs.

“NANS hereby humbly appeal and charge the State Governors to consider the yearnings and sufferings of Nigerian students towards the payment of their parents salaries. Nigerian State Governors should also use this present condition to develop the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of their state for the sole aim of improving their states.

“They should explore and exploit natural resources in their states rather than seeking comfort and relying on oil revenue from the national coffer.

“We also call on the Federal Government to intervene and address the current financial crisis currently being faced by the nation.