The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NANS

  • Where is our revered NANS?

    Where is our revered NANS?

    SIR: Men have come and gone, but their impacts still remain. Having carefully watched the modus operandi of our current set of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), leadership, saying that one is surprised is like stating the obvious in view of latest moves on the campus of the University of Lagos. From what is obtainable in their elections down to their activities compared with the days of yore, it is obvious NANS isn’t what it used to be.

    Frankly, it has lost its essence. Gone are the days when NANS recognized intellectualism, vibrancy and incorruptibility. Touts, vagabonds, sycophants and irresponsible agents of backwardness have now taken over. At this stage, progressives and responsible leaders of tomorrow need to say NO to NANS’ forceful and domineering posture. It is no news that University of Lagos Students Union is back. But the students want it back for good. As such, it will be totally bad if the first administration that should set the pace for a good, reliable and incorruptible Student Union government turns to a willing proxy of the misguided NANS’ leadership at the national level. The students are not oblivious of the latest romance between NANS and a Presidential aspirant for ULSU.

    Hence, one strongly advice that those concerned should not to ride on the ‘good will’ of NANS if they don’t want to bring the violence, corruption and other vices associated with NANS to our great University of Lagos.

     

    • Omotayo Akinrinwa is Director of Programs, Gani Fawehinmi Students’ Chambers

     

  • Fashola donates buses to tertiary institutions

    Fashola donates buses to tertiary institutions

    The Lagos State Government on Friday presented 12 fourteen-seater buses to students union executives of State and Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries were the student unions of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the Lagos State University (LASU), the Yaba College of Education and the Federal (Technical) College of Education, Akoka.

    Others were those of the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, St. Augustine’s College of Education, and the Federal College of Fisheries and Oceanography.

    The students unions of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of the Education and Lagos State College of Health Technology also benefited from the gift.

    Fashola, while presenting the buses to the beneficiaries, said the buses were redemption of his promise to them.

    He said the buses were to ease the transportation of the executives of the students’ unions, both within and outside of their respective institutions.

    The governor explained that the buses were also presented to students of federal institutions in the state because it concerned the welfare of all students.

    He added that the government had consistently shared in the burden of police, customs and some other federal institutions in the state, to ensure that they served the residents efficiently.

    “Students in federal tertiary institutions in the state are residents of our state and we will continue to demonstrate to you that there will be no discrimination against anybody or institution in this state.

    “It is not only state institutions we are intervening in. You will remember all of the facilities we put in some federal institutions during the Sports Festival, we left them behind.

    “And, we have always carried federal obligations here, supporting federal prisons, the immigration and police and so on. This is the character of the state government.

    “And now that the All Progressives Congress is taking over the federal government, I hope the burden will reduce.” he said.

    Fashola said the government was presently upgrading infrastructure at the Lagos State University (LASU), to make the institution an enviable citadel of learning.

    The governor named the LASU’s Senate building, the Students Arcade and the lecture theatres, as some of the projects being put in place by his administration.

    Fashola urged the students to vote for the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on April 11, to ensure continuity of his administration’s strides.

    Sanusi Suleiman, a representative of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), thanked the governor for the buses.

    He said the governor’s gesture was a clear indication that he was concerned about the welfare of students.

    Sanusi, who pledged the students’ continued support for the Fashola-led administration, said they would vote for Ambode for the continuation of Fashola’s strides.

  • Crack in NANS over Jonathan, Buhari

    Crack in NANS over Jonathan, Buhari

    Students may not line up behind a common candidate during Saturday’s presidential election. Why? The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) appears divided over who to support between  President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports TEMITOPE YAKUBU (ND II Quantity Surveying, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti).

    There seems to be a crack in the National Association of Nigerian Students’ (NANS) as candidates in the forthcoming elections canvass for students’ support through their umbrella body.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that NANS Vice President for External Affairs Comrade Tosin Ogunkuade’s critcism of President Goodluck Jonathan has pitched him against some members of NANS parliament.

    At its 70th sitting at the Benue State University (BSU) last Saturday, some members of the legislative arm led by Odoh Ochai claimed to have impeached Ogunkuade, a student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), for what they called insubordination and political jobbery.

    Comrade Musbau Esihinrogun, a student of Kwara State Polytechnic (KWARA POLY), was said to have been sworn in to replace Ogunkuade.

    Ochai, who is allegedly being used by the a Special Assistant in the presidency to destabilise the students’ body, also accused Ogunkuade of dragging NANS into a “murky political environment”, which, he said, is against the association’s rules. The Senate President condemned Ogunkuade’s supposed leaning toward the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the leading opposition party.

    Ochai accused Ogunkuade of being absent from NANS executive activities, leaving his official task to participate in politics.

    He said: “We have noticed that some members of the NANS executive led by Tosin Ogunkuade have been trying to factionalise the body for their political benefit. They have tried to create some factional executives to perpetrate their anti-student evil. This is high level indiscipline and insubordination, a misrepresentation, neglecting constitutional duties for political jobbery.”

    Reacting to his purported impeachment, Ogunkuade said he remained the Vice President for External Affairs, stressing that he could not be impeached at a “Kangaroo sitting”. All NANS senators, he said, were with him in Lagos for an event at the time he was purportedly impeached.

    He said: “NANS members from Zone A have issued a statement that they were not aware of any Senate meeting held on Saturday. Some people cannot just wake up one day and say they have impeached a national officer without recourse to due process and parliamentary procedures.”

    Ogunkuade said those against him were acting the script of their paymasters, who he did not mention. He accused an aide of President Jonathan of using subtle means to divide the association, because, according to him, the president could not get a definite endorsement from the NANS leadership.

    Ogunkuade said NANS’ agitations and activities were in tune with students’ interest, adding that the body would support candidates whose programmes would raise the hope of students and engender the overhauling of the falling education standard.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE on telephone, NANS president Usman Tijani, a student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), said he was not aware of Ogunkuade’s impeachment, adding that there is no crisis in the body.

    He said: “There is no rancour in NANS; we remain one united entity as we said when we came on board last November.

    If there is any crisis, we will discuss it at the Senate where all Students’ Union Government presidents in all schools will be present. But, I am not aware of any impeachment and Ogunkuade remains the Vice President for External Affairs.”

    A member of Senate from the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Igwe Ude Umanta, said the meeting that purportedly impeached Ogunkuade was hurriedly arranged for political vendetta. He said: “I still want to believe that the rumour that Ogunkuade has been impeached for supporting a candidate of his choice in the coming presidential election is untrue. Apart from the fact that it amounts to a waste of effort if there was any meeting, it also smacks of unnecessary desperation and official rascality. This is  plain political vendetta against an official, who has rights to support any candidate of his choice in a general election.”

    Umanta advised Ochai to desist from being used by politicians to factionalise the NANS leadership for their benefit.

    A member, Muhammed Liman of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU) in Katsina, accused Tijani of working against the association’s interest, noting that the NANS president was secretly in support of the travail of his deputy.

    Liman said Tijani should have openly disassociated himself from the purported impeachment.

    He advised the NANS president to avoid crisis during his tenure.

    But a member, who did not want his name mentioned, accused Ogunkuade of working against NANS’ constitution.

    He said: “It is nowhere in  NANS’ constitution stated that the Vice President for External Affairs should act as spokesman for the association. He should be sanctioned for his political utterances these days.”

     

  • NANS demands NYSC online registration reduced to N3000

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday urged the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to peg the N4, 000 online registration fees to N3000.

    Speaking in Abuja after meeting with the management of NYSC, NANS President, Comrade Tijani Usman, endorsed the policy.

    He, however, said there was no need retaining the old manual call up system, pointing out it was costly and risky.

    He said on no account should anybody exploit intending NYSC members under the system.

  • APC rally: Police release detained student leaders

    The Ekiti State Police Command has released officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) arrested in the wake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally held last Saturday in Ado-Ekiti.

    The student leaders were said to have been released on bail Tuesday after spending three days in detention.

    The Youth Wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday condemned the detention of the students which it said violated their fundamental human rights.

    The state APC Youth Leader, Femi Ogundare, while welcoming their release, said the detention of the students for three days was unjustified, inhuman and unacceptable.

    Ogundare said the students have constitutional rights of freedom of speech and association which they exercised at the APC presidential campaign rally.

    The state’s Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, confirmed their release on telephone. He disclosed that they were released on bail.

    The detained students who breathed the air of freedom are – NANS Vice President (External Affairs), Tosin Ogunkuade; former Chairman, NANS Joint Campus Committee, Ekiti State, Oluwadamilare Bewaji and Idowu Odebunmi.

    They were arrested in the early hours of Monday with NANS claiming that they were arrested for openly identifying with the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who was in the state on Saturday for his presidential campaign rally.

    Ogunkuade addressed the rally on behalf of the student body, declaring their support for Buhari’s candidature.

    But the police claimed that the students were arrested with what they called “dangerous weapons”, but NANS disagreed, saying only campaign posters were found in their vehicles.

     

  • NANS alleges foul play in student’s death in US

    HOW did a Nigerian student, Matthew Ajibade die in  police custody in the United States (US)? This is the poser the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) wants the US to answer. The 22-year-old Nigerian studying in the US died, last week, in an isolation cell of the Savannah Police Station in Georgia.

    According to reports, the late Matthew was said to be suffering from bipolar disorder (mood swing) and died after being locked up by two Sheriff’s deputies with whom he had a scuffle.

    NANS alleged foul play on the student’s death, demanding explanation from the US. In a statement signed by NANS’ Vice President (External Affairs), Comrade Oluwatosin Ogunkuade, the students’ body condemned the circumstance that led to Matthew’s death, accusing the US police of maltreating the Nigerian.

    NANS said reports by American media showed the US police were aware of the deceased’s health condition as at the time he was arrested. The body insisted that the late Matthew should have been taken to the hospital for attention, rather than being locked up  by two Sheriff’s deputies with whom he had a scuffle.

    Ogunkuade said: “The attitude of United States police was totally condemnable as the late Matthew was reported to have been placed in an isolated cell, not minding his medical condition. From the reports by American media, we can deduce that the late student was a subject of maltreatment.”

    He said NANS demanded a thorough investigation and comprehensive report from the US on the cause of the death of the Nigerian. Ogunkuade threatened to mobilise students to picket the United States Embassy in Nigeria if the American government did not investigate the matter.

    The NANS leader said it would negate natural justice if the outcome of the investigation is not fair. He called on Nigerian government to rise to the challenge of Nigerian students being maltreated in foreign countries in their quest to get quality education. Ogunkuade said Matthew’s death presented the tragic picture of what many Nigerians face abroad.

    The late Matthew was reported to have been arrested for battery, after the police were informed of a domestic violence against the deceased’s girlfriend.

    When officers arrived at the scene, the late Matthew was said to be holding his girlfriend tightly, covering themselves with a blanket.

    It was alleged that the girlfriend had a bruise on her face and her nose bleeding. The police reports stated that when an officer tried to separate them, the deceased “started to resist apprehension in a violent manner, and was taken to the ground, so that he could be handcuffed.”

    The late Matthew’s girlfriend reportedly informed police of his medical condition, handing them a container labeled Divalproex, which contained pills for bipolar disorder or seizure.

    Authorities say the deceased was placed in an isolation cell because “he became combative with deputies while being booked and his behaviour was deemed dangerous.”

    The late Matthew was born in Lagos but moved to the US to study Computer Science at Savannah Technical College.

  • NANS urges ADOPOLY unions to end strike

    Worried by the stand-off between the authorities of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and the school’s trade unions, which has paralysed academic activities, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ekiti Axis, has urged the workers to call off their strike.

    Those on strike include the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

    The student body also declared its support for the embattled Rector of the school, Dr. Taiwo Akande, saying her opponents want her out to pave the way for an indigene to head the institution.

    NANS called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the unions to call off their strike “in the interest of Nigerian students who are idling away.”

    The Association noted that it could no longer continue to tolerate the strike caused by the selfish interest of the unions.

    In a statement by the NANS Ekiti Axis Coordinator, Adetunji Bankole, the association said the unions’ demands for payment of CONTISS 15 could not be met by the rector, but by the Federal Government

    Adetunji said it has become imperative for the students to call on all local  trade unions to reconsider its present adamant stand on the continued closure of the institution.

    “Our recent investigation at the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, National Board for Technical Education, Kaduna and about eight different Polytechnics in Nigeria showed that the stoppage of CONTISS 15 the striking Trade Unions are fighting for was a directive from the Federal Government and not a decision of the Rector.

    We have spoken to student leaders of various polytechnics and have realised that no polytechnic in Nigeria is still paying CONTISS 15, then why should the striking workers waste students’ time and resources? Why can’t they face the Federal Government and stop tarnishing the image of the Rector”, he said.

    The students also dismissed the call for the removal of the Rector from office because, according to them, it is ill motivated and giving a dog a bad name in other to hang it.

    “We also advised all those clamoring that the Rector should resign due to Ekiti Agenda to kindly resist from such act and stop politicising the Institution on ethnic basis as the institution is Federal Government-owned. As we are talking, there are so many Federal Institutions in other states that have Ekiti indigenes as their heads, so what are the trade unions talking about?”, Adetunji asked.

    NANS then supported the continuation of the Rector in office because of her students oriented programme and praised her maturity in handling the matter.

     

  • NANS honours Fuji artiste

    A Fuji musician popularly known as Saheed Osupa has been honoured by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for promoting culture and local language.

    The artiste was conferred with an Icon of Excellence award. Osupa received the award from the NANS National Deputy Senate President, Comrade Oluwasegun Famuyibo, in his Magodo, Lagos home. Olusegun said the association recognised the musician for his contribution to the growth of culture and youth development.

    Osupa said he was happy that his efforts were recognised by NANS, advising students not to be used by politicians as thugs. He promised to give scholarship to brilliant students in some selected universities across. He also advised students to attach importance to their academic pursuits and shun cultism.

    Other members of NANS executive present at the presentation included Comrade Jide Lawal, Comrade Temitayo Adewoye, Comrade Sola Ninalowo and Comrade Pelumi Ogunbekun.

  • If I were NANS president

    The National Association of Nigerian Students has elected new officers to pilot the affairs of the apex Nigerian students’ organisation and the largest black students’ movement in Africa. NANS used to be one of the strongest unions in Nigeria that stood and fought for justice, good governance, rule of law and struggle for the greater interest and welfare of the Nigerian students. But today the reverse is the case.

    If I were Comrade Tijani Usman, the newly elected president of NANS, my eecutives and I would work tirelessly to repair the image of NANS. The country and other parts of the world now see NANS as a political tool and a toothless bull dog. As the president, I will look back and learn from the past, establish good and cordial relationship with students and allied students’ groups. We will together repair the image of the largest students’ organisation in Africa. We will put an end to the bogus award-giving NANS and usher in a new era in students’ unionism.

    One of my focal objectives as NANS president would also be to have a direct impact on my students. The best way I could do this is by ensuring that intimidation, sexual harassment, exploitation of all kinds, witch hunting, suspension and unjustifiable rustication of students in our nation campuses become a thing of the past. This will also make NANS embark on meaningful projects that would have direct impact on the lives of Nigerian students. And until that is achieved, many students will not see reasons to participate in NANS movement.

    The history of Nigeria will be in complete without mentioning NUNS which metamorphosed into NANS. This is because of the active and pivotal role the then NANS played in the democratisation process of this country. So if I were the NANS president, I will make sure the union and comrades under this association speak out loud on issues that affect the students, the society and the country at large. I will bring NANS back to those good old days, those times when NANS was a respected crusader for the gospel of change. Therefore, NANS will speak when necessary, because the future would have no pity for those men who possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak the truth to their oppressor, but have taken refuge in passivity of mute indifference, and sometimes, cold complicity.

    As NANS president, I can be described as a freedom fighter. And according to Ayatollah, “revolution is the religion of fighters for freedom, who pursue justice and righteousness, the religion of those who crave freedom and the school of resisters of exploiters”. So “peaceful revolution” for a better Nigeria is going to be among our objectives. As president, I shall make sure my vibrant and intelligent executives, stakeholders and comrades across the country stand against corruption, injustice, bad leadership and injustice of any kind in our democratic experiment.

    In the words of Prof Wole Soyinka, “the man dies in all who keeps silent in the face of tyranny… in any people that submit willingly to the daily humiliation of fear, the man dies”. My administration is going to have zero tolerance for maltreatment, intermittent wounding, maiming and killing of Nigerian students by government forces or due to negligence on the part of government agencies. In this regard, I will embark on nation-wide sensitisation of NANS officials, establish and maintain good relationship with security agencies and use my noble office to make sure government agencies like Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) do what is expected of them to reduce and prevent early death of my students. When all these are done, and the aforementioned still, then we shall be confrontational and ensure any one, government agencies or security personnel that intermediate, maim, wound or kill our student are brought to justice.

    It is no doubt that Nigeria as a country is facing a myriad of challenges ranging from insecurity to unemployment crisis. If I were the NANS President, part of my plan will be to integrate the country and close every gap created by ethnic and religious tussles. NANS shall organise intellectual programmes, seminars and workshops to bring various regional campuses together. When this is done, the unity of the country will be strengthened and when there is unity, the security challenges we currently face, are half way solved.

    If I were NANS President, I will lead with zero tolerance for corruption and would never compromise my integrity for fleeting wads of naira notes. Once NANS is not corrupted, compromised, betrayed, miffed and hijacked by the Federal Government, then the association will be able to perform effectively as expected.

    History has it that national association of Nigerian students has always been an advocate for good governance. My reign as the NANS president will make sure that the association regains its pride of place as a campaigner for true and lasting democracy. Therefore, we shall get involved in policy implementation and make Nigeria a better country for its people. As a consummate grass root mobiliser, NANS under my watch, would rally Nigerian students to support good governance and reject every bad administration.

    Since Iam not NANS president, I urge its new president Tijani Usman, other executives and stakeholders, to make good use of this opportunity given to them to change NANS for good. They should consider some of these points as advice on what they can do to bring back the lost glory of the famous National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The best part of activism is for one to make sure that his or her name is inscribed in history books. Let us continue the struggle and God willing, victory will surely be ours.

     

    Abdulrahman just finished from Mass Comm., ABU Zaria

     

  • NANS leaders take oath

    Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel in Abuja was filled  when the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) inaugurated members of its national executive.

    The event hosted dignitaries among who was Dr Ahmadu Ali, for chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who chaired the occasion.

    Other guests are the Attah of Igala,  Micheal Oboni; Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students’ Matter, Comrade Jude Imagwe, NANS Grand Patron, Chief Tunde Adeniyi, Chief of Staff to former Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Osenu Odewale, and Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, chairman, NANS Convention Planning Committee.

    Ali, said the crop of NANS leaders were intellectuals, who had taken up the challenge to support the government in the development of the nation. “I believe the new leadership of NANS is the continuation of last tenure and we want you to take Nigeria to the next level. This is your time; you have no time to wait for. There is no barren in age, I. want us to cooperate and move Nigeria forward,” he said.

    Imagwe urged the new executives to promote good values through their activities, assuring them of government’s readiness to support them and improve the standard of education. He said the president had allocated substantial percentage to education, which, he said, has resulted in diversification of our tertiary education.

    He said: “It is enemy of education that wants to destabilised Nigerian education. We must rise in support of the government’s effort to stop these aliens. Election is approaching and I urge students not to allow politicians to use them as thugs. We must differentiate ourselves has students. NANS leadership must help the electoral body to ensure free and fair election, because they can’t succeed without the support of students.”

    The NANS president, Tijani Usman, said the convention, which produced the executive was the most peaceful in the history of the association. He listed his priorities, saying he would agitate for proper funding of education and embark role on human capital development programmes.

    He said: “I am aware that the government has been considering the idea fee increment in universities, polytechnics and colleges of cducation. Their reasons look appealing to close funding gap of these institutions, but the wider implication is that education will be taken away from the students of the poor. This will increase rank of social miscreants, which can easily be mobilised as agent of terrorism and vices.”

    Vice President (External Affairs), Oluwatosin Ogunkuade promised that the association would do its best to promote scholarship, entrepreneurship, job creation and free education for students.

    Others members of the NANS executive are Vice President (National Affairs), Gbenga Ayenuro; Vice President (Special Duties), Ufuoma Erharhine; Senate President, Royce Ochai; General Secretary, Umar Dahiru; Public Relations Officer, Ezekiel Nwankwo; Treasurer, Isa Jabi; and Financial Secretary, Mohammed Yusuf; Ex-Officio I, Mercy Taiwo; Senate Clerk, Zachariah Sha; Assistant General Secretary, Love Obazee; Ex-Officio II, Deborah Ohuoba; Director of Exchange, Umar Yusuf, and Oluwasegun Famuyiwa, Deputy Senate President.