The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NANS

  • NANS to ‘resist’ hike in tuition fees

    NANS to ‘resist’ hike in tuition fees

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said on Wednesday it would resist any plan by some tertiary institutions to increase tuition fees.

    NANS President, Chinonso Obasi, said this in a statement in Abuja that the association received reports that at least 38 tertiary institutions had concluded plans to hike tuition fees in their institutions with utter pain and disgust.

    He said Nigerian students have been made to bear the brunt of poverty ideas and administrative ineptitude of managers and chief executives of tertiary institutions over the years.

    The statement reads: “NANS wishes to state that plans by some tertiary institutions to increase tuition fees would be met with maximum resistance.

    “In saner climes, education funding includes revenue from researches and consultative collaborations. Implementation of UNESCO strategies, particularly commercializing research findings should be the priority of Nigeria educational institutions rather than constant hike in tuition fees payable by helpless students.”

    NANS also said President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to justify the confidence Nigerian students who voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last elections.

    “This oversight becomes very painful despite the positive contributions of Nigerian students to the success of the administration’s key policies and programmes, such as the fight against corruption, maintenance of peace and unity in the country, as well as campaign for local government autonomy.

    “NANS feels that Nigerian students do not merit such harsh punishment as fee increases, which would further limit the capacity of the students to dream of a better future,” the statement added.

  • NANS express worries over continued closure of LAUTECH

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has expressed worries over the crisis rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology,  Ogbomoso, leading to shut down of the institution for over nine months.

    NANS President, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, speaking in Abuja when he hosted about 100 students of the institution to a dinner, vowed to relocate the headquarters of NANS to LAUTECH in order to ensure sustained action for restoration of academic activities at the University.

    He condemned the action of the two owner states, Oyo and Osun governments for failing to meet their obligation in sustaining the funding of the institution which he described as a “unique university in Nigeria.”

    Obasi said: “Today we have had a memorandum of understanding between NANS and the students of LAUTECH. The memorandum  is that the crisis rocking the institution is going to be a struggle for NANS until normalcy is restored and full academic activities commence at the institution.

    “My leadership is going to go into serious action, because all we need now is for LAUTECH to be reopened.

    “The students are also making their demands. They have called on the Federal government to take over the management of the University. At the moment, we share in their views and if I’m convinced that that is what the totality of students want, we will go along with them.

    “I’m not a student of LAUTECH but I was elected as the President of Nigerian students; so I will do what my students want me to do. We will soon convene a meeting of students and properly mobilise to relocate headquarters of NANS to LAUTECH until the institution is reopened to students.”
    He also pledged to meet with the Minister of Education and other relevant stake holders on the demands of the students for the Federal government to take over the affairs of the University.

    Meanwhile, the President of Student Union Government (SUG) of LAUTECH, Comrade Solace Bakare, said during the meeting that the closure of the University for over nine months had put the lives of over 35, 000 students at various levels in the institution in great peril.

    He said the students have petitioned the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, and the National Universities Commission (NUC), to intervene in the crisis.

    He said the students had earlier protested to the National Assembly on the need to ensure that legislative actions were taken to facilitate the take over of the University from Oyo and Osun states.

    “This joint ownership marked the beginning of problems of the University. There have been series of industrial actions by staff unions of the institution over non-payment of salaries, allowances and arrears due to poor funding by the owner state governments. The recent one is the over nine months strike by staff unions without any genuine efforts by the owners of the University to resolve the crisis.

    “We, therefore, appeal to the Federal government of Nigeria to take over the total control of the affairs and management of this higher citadel of learning and save the lives of over 35,000 students of the University,” he said.

  • NANS disrupts House of Reps’ celebration

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday disrupted the second anniversary celebration of the 8th National Assembly at the assembly complex in Abuja.

    The incident occurred at the House of Representatives version of the celebration when Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, introduced Mr Harruna Kadiri as President of NANS.

    Instantly, members of the association, in a loud chorus, rejected the recognition of Kadiri as their president, and insisted that it should be withdrawn.

    They continued the chorus of “no, no, no, Kadiri is not the president of NANS, he is not our president’’ and stalled proceedings in the celebration.

    It took some effort of security operatives at the event to get the students out of the chambers for the celebrations to continue.

    Speaking immediately to journalists on behalf of the protesting students, Mr Chinoso Obasi said that he was the substantive president of the association.

    He displayed a letter of invitation to the event addressed to him as NANS president.

    Obasi recalled that at the house’s invitation, he participated as NANS president in a public hearing recently conducted by the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services “to defend a bill that has to do with Nigerian students’’.

    “Today, I am here on invitation, not on my own, to attend this celebration and I am being embarrassed with another fellow being recognised in my place.’’

    He accused a member of the house, Herman Hembe, who he said was a member of NANS, as being responsible for the development.

    “A Sergeant-at-Arms Officer had approached me and asked for my name and I gave my complimentary card.

    “To my greatest surprise, when the speaker was about to recognise my presence, the Hembe went to meet him and the speaker recognised Kadiri instead,’’ he said.

    Obasi disclosed that Kadiri lost in the association’s election held in 2016.

    He decried the incident, saying “at a time when democracy is being preached, it is saddening to see the House of Representatives undermining the process.

    “We are not a political party; we are not an arm of government. We are only a pressure group, so, why the attempt to impose somebody on us who is not representing us?” he said.

    Obasi said NANS would pass a “vote-of-no-confidence in the speaker’’.

    In a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Hembe questioned the media for bothering itself about the incident.

    Hembe said he wondered why the media preferred controversial issues to other burning issues in the country.

    “Is the NANS issue news worthy? You media people, why do you like controversy so much?

    “Of all that happened today at the anniversary celebrations, of all the speeches, is this the only thing you saw to write?

    “You can write whatever you want,” he said.

  • NANS hails JAMB over UTME

    NANS hails JAMB over UTME

    The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has hailed the Prof. Ishaq Oloyede-led Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its conduct of last week’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    It said its position was informed by reports of its field officers across the country.

    In a statement by its National President, Comrade Aruna Kadiri, the apex students’ body said despite teething technical problems  in some centres and externally-induced hitches, which were beyond the board, the conduct of the examination was successful in many parts of the country.

    Noting that despite increase in the number of students this year and considering this is the second fully Computer Based Test (CBT), NANS said it believed the conduct of the exam was an improvement on previous years’.

    It said the reforms put in place by the Oloyede leadership to make the exam corruption-free and fraud-proof yielded results, as there were no cases of cyber hacking.

  • NANS gets success tips

    Students have been advised to avail themselves opportunities of mentoring which can help direct their path to life.

    This advice was given during the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lagos chapter mentorship summit. It was held at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos.

    The association’s Chairman, Samson Adewale, said youth engagement in social vices can be linked to false mindset and inadequate orientation towards life.

    Adewale noted that some youths go astray in life due to poor guidance or lack of inspiration

    “Nigerian students have been lagging behind. You will find out that a good number of us grow up without having a mentor to direct us. Even some of us had dreams, but our dreams got shattered because we are not ready to learn or not having someone to mentor us; someone who can help redirect our thinking to improve ourselves and add value to the society,” he said.

    He said it was necessary to create a mentorship platform “where youths can benefit because they have undisputed roles to play to move our country forward, rather than being sidelined or used as tools by politicians to achieve selfish aims.

    “This is a clarion call to our politicians, entertainers, business tycoons and others to see the youths as people they can mentor, and train to bring out the best in them. They should have a bigger picture of us and see us as a driving force for greater development,” he said.

    One of the speakers, Mrs Abimbola Soluade, Managing Director, Pitman Training Centre, Ikeja, admonished the students to take advantage of the platforms technology has created to seek knowledge rather than frivolities.

    She advised that mentorship should be sought irrespective of age difference.

    “The role of mentorship can never be over emphasised. Even in the various schools, some students end up studying  wrong courses, but with the help of someone who can  help you appreciate it, you can excel better in that course. Seeking mentorship may not necessarily come from someone older than you, you can get that from a younger fellow. What is key is the knowledge you have and not the age difference. Neither should you feel ashamed to be mentored by someone younger, that can add value to your life,” she said.

    The National President (AOCOED) Alumni Association, Comrade Adeyemi Adesanya,   advised parents  to assist teachers in educating their wards, adding that they should also help in  curbing juvenile delinquencies in youths.

  • NANS passes vote of confidence in JAMB registrar

    NANS passes vote of confidence in JAMB registrar

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has passsed a vote of confidence in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar Prof. Is’haq Oloyede.
    NANS President Aruna Kadiri said Oloyede had done well in conducting a credible mock for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) .
    In a statement in Abuja, Aruna said the success of last Saturday’s mock was a testimony to the readiness and preparedness of JAMB’s leadership to administer the coming UTME effectively and transparently.
    According to him, NANS welcomes the general overhauling and introduction of far reaching reforms to the examination body.
    His words: “Our field officers gave positive and laudable report of the exercise.
    “The overhauling is necessary to restore the dwindling fortune of the board.
    “Since coming into office, the Prof. Oloyede-led leadership has introduced far reaching reforms in its operation and conduct of examinations. These are to safeguard the credibility of the exam.”
    Kadiri said NANS considered these reforms as capable of restoring the negatively skewed image of JAMB, noting that the coming UTME would be a major litmus test for the success of these reforms.
    “It is our opinion that Nigerians of good conscience should rise up in unison tosupport the body in its quest to undertake a reliable and credible examination.
    “We are not oblivious of the fact that like all reforms, the turn around in JAMB would have its attendant collateral shortfalls. These are manifested in some already resolved technical hiccups.
    “Notwithstanding, these hiccups have not, and cannot, in any way undermine the capability of the Prof. Oloyede-led JAMB to conduct a transparent and credible UMTE,” Kadiri added.

  • NANS disassociate self from Lagos protest

    NANS disassociate self from Lagos protest

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has disassociated itself from the purported protest by expelled students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) led by one Ogbonna Collins Rochas saying it would resist any attempt by selfish politicians to use students to cause instability in the institution.

    NANS in a statement jointly signed by its Zone B coordinator Comrade Pedro Chibuzor Obi and his deputy, Comrade Chuks Okafor urged students of the institution to resume academic activities and not allow themselves to be distracted.

    It could be recalled that the management of the institution had closed down the school following an incidence that occurred on the 17th February 2016, when FUTO students went on a rampage following a miscommunication that the tuition fees in the institution had been increased leading to stealing and destruction of the school facilities.

    NANS in the statement maintained that it had engaged the school management and positive resolutions were being sorted leading to the reopening of the institution and wondered why anybody would contemplate another round of crisis.

    According to NANS, the arrow head of the crisis, Ogbonna Collins Rochas along other five culprits were expelled by the institution after finding them guilty. However, the student’s body said it was in talks to ensure that those found not culpable are recalled.

    NANS accuses the ring leader of doing the bidding of his political paymasters by taking laws into his hands terrorising the peace of the institution in the name of protest.

    “We are not known for violence and criminality on our campuses. We strongly condemn this act in strong terms,” the statement read in part.

    NANS appealed to students and the general public of FUTO to disassociate themselves from any form of gathering that may lead to the breakdown of law and order adding that it will continue to appeal for the reinstatement of those expelled but have followed the part of peace, modesty, remorse and ready to graduate.

    “Any student found protesting as a result of FUTO crisis does so at his own peril”, the statement further warned.

  • Bring dividends of democracy to Nigerians – Group charges Senate

    Bring dividends of democracy to Nigerians – Group charges Senate

    A coalition of civil society organisations, Occupy Senators, state on Monday, called on the Senators in the National Assembly to bring dividends of democracy to the people.

    The Convener and National Coordinator of the group, Mr Retson Tekedeh, made the call at the news conference, following the inauguration of the national body and the state branch of the group in Akure.

    The national coordinator said the call became necessary to avoid the wrath of the masses

    Youth Council, Movement for the Survival of the Underground (MOSUP) and National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) among others.

    He said the group had a meeting across the geo-political zones of the country, to recruit people of each state for more accountability of their representatives at the National Assembly.

    “Our Senators are playing politics in Abuja while the President is working to fix Nigeria.

    “No Senator can decide to play with our future,’’ he said.

    The representative of the ECOWAS Youth Assembly, Mr Ikumapayi Smith, who also spoke at the occasion, described the group as the Citizens’ office for good governance.

    He said that the formation of the group would make the representatives to be accountable to the electorate.

    Ikumapayi noted that the emergence of the group also marked “the commencement of a national mass movement against bad governance, audacious political impunity and mindless looting in the country.”

    Contributing, MOSUP President, Mr Dappa Maharajah called for a serious reorientation of the people, especially the youth, for the group to achieve speedy results.

    Maharajah said that emphasis should be placed on History as a subject in the educational curriculum of the nation, to help promote statesmanship and patriotism in the minds of the citizenry.

    The State Coordinator of the group, Mr Ayodele Oladimeji, said that the idea was to bring the campaign to the grassroots rather than the constant itinerary protest in Abuja.

    “We are calling on all sons and daughters of Ondo state to  ensure that Senators representing us conform and comply with the President’s people-driven agenda to avoid the wrath of the masses.’’

    He also called for expedite actions on the anti-corruption bills and 2017 budget without playing politics with them.expedite actions on the anti-corruption bills and 2017 budget without playing politics with them.expediteactions on the anti-corruption bills and

    However, Jide Omogunwa, the Media Officer to the Senator representing Ondo South District, Sen. Yele Omogunwa, said that the Southern Senatorial District of the state had not suffered any kind of neglect.Yele Omogunwa, said that the Southern Senatorial District of the state had not suffered any kind of neglect.

    Omogunwa said that the Senator had embarked on large scale empowerment projects twice since 2016, with over N200 million to benefit the people of the six council areas in the district.

    He also disclosed that among other items distributed by the Senator was a motor grader for infrastructure and agriculture development during the second batch of his district empowerment projects last Saturday.

    “In fact, his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last year was borne out of the drive to give his people qualitative representation and to bring to the electorate the dividends of democracy,” Omogunwa said.

  • NANS gives 24 hours ultimatum for release of 13 UNILAG students

    NANS gives 24 hours ultimatum for release of 13 UNILAG students

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the immediate release of 13 students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) being held in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.

    NANS’ President, Mr Chinonso Obasi,  said the union would protest at Kirikiri Prison if the 13 students were not freed within 24 hours.

    A Special Offences Mobile Court had on April 1 remanded the 13 UNILAG students in Kirikiri Prisons, pending their bail application.

    They were accused of engaging in unlawful invasion of Television Continental in Lagos.

    The students were arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful invasion and disruption of activities and have all pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

    The accused students are Femi Adeyeye, Toni Aina, Kodri Yaya, Asimi Oladime, Ismahim Olalekan, Segun Okesola, Abdulazeez Soneye, Idris Abogunloko, and Muyiwa Olaniyi.

    Others are Toheed Oladimeji, Joseph Akanni, Lukumon Olusegun, and Abiodun Agbeniyi.

    The case was adjourned until April 6 for a determination of their bail.

    However, Obasi, in the statement, said that Nigerian students would not accept further detention of the students.

    “After a painstaking review of the circumstances surrounding the ruling, we have resolved to demand and hereby demand the unconditional release of these students within 24 hours.

    “Consequently, we make bold to state that if at the expiration of our 24 hours ultimatum, these innocent students are not released without strings, we shall relocate the headquarters of NANS to Kirikiri in solidarity with our members.

    “We also hope that the authorities would use the opportunity of the 24 hours ultimatum to either expand the facilities of Kirikiri prison or release our colleagues, as they can see we are serious and determined by offering them a fair choice.”

    Obasi said that the court should have warned the students instead of sending them to prison for a mere protest.

    “In other climes what the court should have done was to certify that the suspects are bona-fide students and release them to their school authorities or student leaders.

    “ But rather than factor in the extenuating circumstances of their protest, the court hurriedly blunted the proper socialisation of 13 Nigerian leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

    Premium Times reported on Sunday that the management of  Television Continental (TVC) disputed police claim that the jailed 13 students of the University of Lagos carried out an  unlawful invasion of the television facility at the Ikosi neighbourhood of Lagos.

    “The Management of Continental Broadcasting Service Limited (owners of TVC) refutes these stories and categorically states that TVC has no hand in the arrest of the students.

    “TVC did not at any point report or lodge any complaint at the police station,” remarked Abisola Agbaje, the legal manager of TVC in a press release in Lagos.

    Ms. Agbaje said, “Truly, the Students came into our premises on Friday the 31st of March, 2017 on or about3 p.m. to protest the “alleged rustication by UNILAG”.

    “The protest was peaceful which we have on record and the students left our premises peacefully.”

  • NANS demands prosecution of Ekiti revenue officials over murder of students

    NANS demands prosecution of Ekiti revenue officials over murder of students

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Ekiti State government to produce officials of Internal Revenue Service (IRS), who allegedly killed two students of Ekiti State University (EKSU), while enforcing tax collection.

    The students also urged the state police command to prosecute the revenue officials for their alleged complicity in the death of the two students on Friday, March 11, 2017, along Ado-Iworoko Road.

    A statement signed by NANS Zone ‘D’ Secretary, Olanrewaju Oloja, identified the two students killed as Taiwo Adekunle, a student of Accounting and Kingsley Effiong, a student of Environmental Management at EKSU.

    It was learnt that the late students were waiting on the roadside for commercial vehicle to convey them to the campus, when a car swerved off the road and ran over them in an attempt to dodge a roadblock mounted by revenue officials.

    In another statement by NANS Chairman, Ekiti axis, Olubunmi Olomosola, the student body described the activities of the officials as criminal, saying tax collection should be a civil matter rather than a warfare.

    Olomosola said:  “NANS condemns this sorrowful act without reservations and we call on the ministry to run psychiatric test on their officials.

    “The security operatives in the state must fish out the perpetrators of this act and arrest them for prosecution in line with Section 07 of the Criminal Code.

    “While we appreciate EKSU’s management for its action to save the lives of the victims before they finally gave up, we issue a seven- day ultimatum for the internal revenue board to produce these thugs who were carrying out their duties in a brutish fashion”.