By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigerian students studying in Teesside University UK have staged protest against their eviction by the varsity authorities over the Naira crisis that has affected their ability to pay tuition fees on time.
Heritage Times HT reports that Nigeria is currently experiencing a record economic crisis in a generation, which has affected its nationals studying at some UK universities.
Inflation is about 34%, and the situation has escalated since inception of current administration when subsidy of petroleum was removed.
The local currency has since depreciated by over 100% against the dollar in nearly a year when President Bola Tinubu was sworn-in.
Teesside University students of Nigerian origin were blocked from their studies and reported to the Home Office after the value of Nigeria’s naira plummeted, wiping out their savings.
BBC quoted some students of contemplating suicide as they accused the university of taking a “heartless” approach to those who fell into arrears as a consequence.
Before the commencement of their studies at Teesside, affected students were subjected to presenting evidence indicating that they have enough funds to pay tuition fees and cater for living expenses.
The economic crisis in their home country has however impacted on the value of the funds as it has drastically depreciated.
A new payment plan introduced by the university which now allows just three installments instead of the previous seven has further increased the woes faced by the students.
A university spokesman said failure to pay was a breach of visa sponsorship requirements, and that it had “no choice” but to alert the Home Office.
The Home Office however said visa sponsorship decisions rested with the institution.
No fewer than 60 Nigerian students had commenced an action, pressing the university for support after a number of people who defaulted on payments were frozen out of university accounts and involuntarily withdrawn from their courses.
The university said it had made “every effort” to support affected students, who had now been offered individual meetings with specialist staff and bespoke payment plans where requested.
“Teesside University is proud to be a global institution with a diverse student population but is also very aware of its obligations regarding visa issuance and compliance.
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“These strict external regulations ensure that the university fully supports a robust immigration system and is outside of the university’s control”, a spokesman of the university said.
He added it was “aware of the challenging financial situation faced by some students” and had “actively offered bespoke payment plans where requested”.
“This option has been taken up by many of our international students; however, some students have still defaulted on these revised payment plans,” he said.
The Home Office said a decision to offer or withdraw visa sponsorship rested with the sponsoring institution.
A spokesman said wherever a visa was shortened or cancelled, individuals should “take steps to regularise their stay or make arrangements to leave the UK”.
