The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NANS

  • FUOYE: NANS secures students’ release

    National President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, has secured the release of two students arrested by the police, in connection with the crisis in the wake of a protest by students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) last weekTuesday.

    The two students, Ogunlana Olabisi, 200-Level Electrical Electronics and Adeniji Oluwasegun, 300-Level  Agric Education, were to be arraigned in court on Monday before NANS’ intervention secured their unconditional release.

    Interestingly, too, students allegedly extorted by the police have identified the officers that demanded cash from them to facilitate their bail.

    Comrade Akpan also secured the release of the Students’ Union bus which was seized by the police and handed over to the FUOYE SU.

    The students’ body had earlier threatened to shut down the entire Ekiti State by what it described as ‘mother of all protests’ before eventually reaching a compromise with the police and Ekiti State government.

    On Tuesday last week, the students protested against poor electricity supply in Oye Township. They blocked the Oye and Ikole campuses, barring students and workers from gaining entrance into the school premises.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the protesters blocked the wife of Ekiti State Governor Erelu Bisi Fayemi while returning from a tour of the 16 local government areas of the state, where she had furthered her empowerment programme.

    The otherwise peaceful protest erupted in crisis as the police attached to the First Lady attempted to smuggle her via the surging protesters, a scenario that eventually deteriorated, and leaving two students dead, vehicles vandalised,  and several others injured.

  • NANS deplores robbery attacks on UniUyo female hostel

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the recurring armed robbery attacks on the female hostel of the University of Uyo (UniUyo), Akwa-Ibom State.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the angry female students staged a peaceful protest last week over what they said was the second robbery in three days.

    National President of NANS, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, said it was ‘unspeakable and unacceptable’ for bandits to invade the female hostels twice within a week and robbing the victims of money and other personal effects.

    He said: “This robbery gang did have enough time such that they dispossessed the female students of their valuables such as; laptops, phones, gadgets, and cash.  The information further revealed the brazenness with which the terror gang came with POS and forced students to insert their ATM cards and transfer their money to them”

    Read Also: Gunmen attack UI female hostel

    “Condemning in strongest terms this beastly act of the armed robbers, we wish to expressly request that the management of the University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators of the terror and prosecute them

    “In the meantime, I have directed NANS National Ex-Officio 1 Comrade Ekemini Inyang, to manage the crisis in order to avoid escalation or lead to a repeat of the June 12, 2013 students’ unrest in University of Uyo. Now that students have threatened a showdown, it is expected that all stakeholders should work together to avert disruption of academic calendar.”

    Danielson urged the management to provide adequate security for the entire school, especially the female hostels, to reassure students of its commitment to their security.

  • NANS seeks more funding for basic education

    THE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on governments  at all levels to increase education funding, especially basic education.

    According to the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.

    In a statement on the Children’s Day celebration, NANS President Comrade Danielson Bamidele- Akpan, said Children’s Day is the time to celebrate children because of their importance to the association and country.

    Said Bamidele-Akpa: “Nigerian children have excelled despite numerous challenges. One prominent instance in recent times is Tanitoluwa Adewunmi, an eight-year-old Nigerian who made international headlines when he emerged a Chess champion.

    ‘’He is the story of the excellent spirit of the Nigerian child.”

    Bamidele-Akpa, who reiterated the importance of basic education and its effect on the future of Nigeria, advised the government to reposition the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    He faulted the leaders for failing to represent the message sent by then former premier of the Western Region Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who made massive investment in education by ensuring that about 30 per cent of the budget of the region  was earmarked for education.

    He expressed displeasure at some governors’ penchant for commercialising public education and failing to uphold Awolowo’s free education legacy.

  • NANS speaks on basic education

    THE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the government across all levels to increase education funding, especially basic education.

    According to the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.

    In a statement on the Children’s Day celebration, NANS President Comrade Danielson Bamidele- Akpan said Children’s Day is the time to celebrate children because of their importance to the association and country.

    Read Also: Group seeks improved welfare for basic education

    Said Bamidele-Akpa: “Nigerian children have excelled, despite numerous challenges. One prominent in recent times is Tanitoluwa Adewunmi, an eight-year-old Nigerian who made international headlines when he emerged a Chess champion.

    ‘’He is the story of the excellent spirit of the Nigerian child.”

    Bamidele-Akpa, who reiterated the importance of basic education and its effect on the future of Nigeria, advised the government to reposition the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    He faulted the leaders for failing to represent the message sent by then former premier of the Western Region Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who made massive investment in education by ensuring that about 30 per cent of the budget of the region  was earmarked for education.

    He expressed displeasure at some governors’ penchant for commercialising public education and failing to uphold Awolowo’s free education legacy.

  • NANS rejects NNPC recruitment requirements, threatens to protest

    The National Leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the alleged anti-poor and anti-masses recruitment requirements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp[oration (NNPC).

    Mr Adeyemi Azeez, NANS National Public Relations Officer (PRO) made the position of the students’ body known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    NANS alleged that it was a deliberate and well-structured resolve to play out many graduates, especially those from the poor background.

    According to him, it is no longer news, that regular occurrences of incessant strikes have long marred the education sector of the country.

    “Therefore, ordinarily an undergraduate that applied for a four or five-year programme will eventually end up staying nine or 10 years on campus pursuing a bachelor degree.

    “NANS will not fall cheap of this deliberate attempt of disenfranchising majorly the real and qualified Nigerian graduates.

    “These graduates, who have gone through rigorous stages within the Nigerian Universities and polytechnics, should not be disenfranchised of this opportunity”.

    Azeez added that the association also make bold to say that unbiased research has shown that mostly graduates of government-owned universities performs far better than graduates from expensive private institutions.

    He, however, called on NNPC within a 72 hours ultimatum to withdraw all alleged anti-poor and anti-masses conditions.

    “Failure to comply with this ultimatum, NANS will move out en-mass to protest or shut down the activities of NNPC.

    “The association will also not hesitate to expose many of the ongoing and recent past frauds being perpetrated by this corporation,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the criteria for Graduate Trainee among others require applicants to have graduated from an accredited University/Polytechnic/Monotechnic not earlier than 2014.

    The criteria also required that applicants must not be more than 28 years of age as at Dec. 31, 2018.

  • NANS suspends protest in Ogun

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said it had suspended its protest scheduled to hold yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, following intelligence that politicians had hijacked it.

    The union also accused some members, especially its national body, of collecting money from politicians, ostensibly to divide and keep quiet over the postponed general elections in the country.

    Its National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Azeez Adeyemi, who addressed reporters in Abeokuta, urged his colleagues to urgently return the money to the donors.

    Adeyemi regretted that politicians had infiltrated NANS’ ranks and sponsored human rights groups to hijack their protest.

    The union leader assured the nation that the bad elements within its fold would be reported to law enforcement agencies for questioning and prosecution, if necessary.

    The NANS spokesman issued 48-hour ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the nation and assure Nigerians of “free, fair and credible” elections.

    He noted that the students’ body had not recovered from the shock of the postponement but urged Nigerians to remain calm and focused.

    Adeyemi also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give INEC the necessary support to ensure free, peaceful and credible general elections.

     

  • Polls shift: NANS suspends protest in Ogun

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ) has disclosed that it has suspended its protest earlier scheduled to take place in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Monday, following intelligence gathering that politicians have hijacked it.

    NANS also accused some of their members, especially from the umbrella body, of collecting money from politicians, ostensibly to keep them divided and mute over the postponed general elections in the country.

    The National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Com. Azeez Adeyemi, who made this known while addressing reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, advised the affected colleagues to urgently return the money to the donor – politicians.

    Adeyemi lamented that politicians have infiltrated the NANS’ ranks and also sponsored human rights group to hijack their protest, but assured that all bad elements within NANS will be reported to the law enforcement authorities for questioning and prosecution if necessary.

    The NANS Image maker, however, issued 48 hours ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to address the nation and assure Nigerians of “Free, Fair and Credible” election.

    He noted that the student body is yet to recover from the shock of the postponement but urged Nigerians to remain calm and focus.

    Adeyemi also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give INEC the necessary support to ensure free, peaceful and credible general elections.

  • NANS congratulates new Acting I-G

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ), has congratulated the new Acting Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, on his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mr Adeyemi Amoo, NANS’ Public Relations Officer, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, urged the acting I-G, to embark of general restructuring of the police.

    He said that Nigerians at this period of elections, are counting on police officers not to compromise security at the polling centres.

    He said, “NANS equally commend President Muhammadu Buhari for respecting the voice and yearnings of Nigerians, against possible tenure elongation of former I-G, Idris Abubakar.

    The president’s action is a demonstration that he remains cautious of his integrity.

    Read Also: NAMA installs ILS at Benin airport

    “NANS, therefore, calls on all officers of the Nigerian Police Force to cooperate with the new I-G.”

    Amoo further assured Nigerians that the students’ body would continue to keep its monitoring eyes on the activities of relevant agencies ahead of the general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mohammed, who served as the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State and currently the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone Five, was born on Nov. 9, 1961.

    He enlisted in the police in 1986 and has a Bachelor Degree in Geography.

  • Students disagree with NANS over outcome of meeting with Buhari

    Students, under the aegies of the Council of Higher Institutions (COHI), have disagreed with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on the outcome of NANS meeting with the Federal Government on Friday, last week.

    COHI, an organ of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos Area Unit, expressed disappointment that the meeting “yielded nothing”.

    In a statement, COHI State Coordinator, Taofeek Iyanda, the group said: “We are highly disappointed in the national leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students during their meeting with  President Muhammad Buhari.

    “We, therefore, want to place our stand as the Council of Higher Institutions, which coordinates the affairs of the Muslim Students in higher institutions in Lagos State that we are opposing the NANS national stand and we see this to be one of the worst things an administration can do to the educational system.

    “This meeting has yielded nothing to (assuage) the ongoing strike of ASUU, which has caused a total shut down in the academic activities of federal and state universities.

    “The leadership has done only one thing – trade of our interest for their personal interests.

    “Considering the statement released by the National President of NANS on December 31, 2018 to go on protest on January 7, 2019, the expectations is to discuss on this, but, unfortunately, to our surprise, they changed the agenda, assuring the Presidency the votes of 20 million electorates.

    “It is more painful that the President of the constituency is being recognised and congratulating the President on his birthday that has been celebrated for a while. All these are nothing but a means of getting some funds from the incumbent which is against the ideal of the establishment,” he said.

    Iyanda noted that NANS was created to protect the interest of students, “but unfortunate they’ve lost their focus. They are not worthy to be referred to as a students’ union”.

    On the ASUU strike, the COHI coordinator blamed the Federal Government more than ASUU, noting that ASUU was fighting a just cause.

    He said: “The strike is simply a means to turn the current and upcoming generation into half-baked literates, who would not have adequate and the required professional competencies to challenge the world development.

    “If the government allows this matter to linger, the implication will come in the way of degradation in the value of education in the country, premature labour forces in the market, and retrogression in research and development of the country.”

    He alleged that the government was using the strike to promote private institutions.

    “If you recall, the universities of Atiku and Obasanjo were opened during the ASUU strikes that came up in their administration,” he said.

  • NANS denies N150m bribery allegations from presidency

    The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday dismissed as false an allegation by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that it received N150 million from the presidency.

    The National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NANS, Mr Adeyemi Amoo, said in Abuja that students should discountenance the ASUU allegation, saying the association was ready to protect the interest of all students.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari, who is known in character and style to virtually all, would never dole out such amount of money for any reason except for national benefit or development.

    President Buhari on January 3, met with the leadership of the Nigerian students to resolve issues with ASUU.

    The meeting deliberated on ways to smoothen unresolved issues that led to the industrial action.

    Amoo said: “Our attention has been drawn to the purported and sponsored allegation that NANS had been bribed by President Muhammadu Buhari with a whooping sum of N150 million to protest against ASUU.

    “We commend the well-meaning, intellectual and genuine civil society groups for not falling cheap for this blackmail, as we’ve gotten informed and reliably that they’ve also been lobbied by ASUU to join them in pushing such blackmail.

    “We are not surprised that this blackmail isn’t flying beyond the pseudo groups they’ve been able to arrange and mobilise with cash. President Muhammadu Buhari is a known person in character and style to virtually all Nigerians, even the opposition knows that Buhari will never give out such amount of money for any reason(s) that is not of national benefits or developments.

    “No doubt this propaganda might have seen the acceptance of the masses if it wasn’t targeted towards Buhari himself.”

    Amoo explained that NANS had earlier declared November 17, 2018 as a nationwide day of mass action tagged: “SAVE EDUCATION RALLY” held simultaneously across the states of the federation, to protest the incessant strikes across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

    He added that in October 2018, NANS national leadership met with the Minister for Education, to fine-tune ways of putting a long-term end to the regular carnival of strikes in the educational sector.

    “We thereby demanded as the major stakeholders in the sectors, to always have representatives at the meeting of ASUU with the federal government, as this was targeted towards adding to the strength and voice of ASUU, so as to make government yield to their demands in time.

    “The federal government on her own side sees the request of being an observer at the negotiation table with ASUU as a welcome development. NANS was invited twice to the meeting of federal government with ASUU, ably represented by the NANS national president, Danielson Akpan, but was walked out twice by the ASUU leadership, insisting that such negotiations must not be done in the presence of younger ones.”