The National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, has threatened to embark on mass protests to disrupt academic activities in tertiary institutions in the southwest without a proper student union in place.
Addressing newsmen in Osogbo today, the Coordinator, NANS Southwest (Zone D), Owolewa Taiwo, disclosed that banning student union activities on campus is inimical to the welfare of students on such campuses.
He said some schools, including Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State Polytechnic Iree, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, and Ogbomoso were among the schools where the management has banned student union activities, adding that NANS would not hesitate to embark on mass protests in such schools to ensure reversal of such draconian decisions, reports Vanguard.
His words, “It has come to our attention that institutions such as Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and notably the University of Lagos (UNILAG) still lack a functional Students’ Union. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D under my leadership believes that the absence of functional Students’ Unions is a glaring affront to the rights and aspirations of Nigerian students. We will not stand idle as students’ voices are silenced and their interests are neglected in this institution.
“Having exhausted the first two C’s of Aluta in advocating for the reinstatement of the Students’ Union at these campuses, we are left with the final C: Confrontation. Therefore, we hereby issue a 14-day ultimatum to UNILAG, OSPOLY and LAUTECH to reinstate its Students’ Union. If this demand is not met, the association will mobilize a massive protest to disrupt academic activities and bring the issue to national attention. This absence undermines students’ rights and limits their ability to voice and safeguard their interests.
“Should this ultimatum pass without action, we are prepared to take decisive action to protect the rights of our Students in Zone D and we will not hesitate to use all available means, including mass protests to ensure that our demands are met”.
Fielding questions on the exclusion of private tertiary institutions students from NELFUND, Taiwo disclosed that students of privately owned institutions are also Nigerians and members of NANS, hence, urged the government to allow them to benefit from the laudable scheme.
“NANS umbrella covers students that are Nigerians irrespective of where they attend school. NELFUND is designed to benefit Nigerian students, hence, if students of private tertiary institutions want to apply, they should be free to do so. They are also Nigerians and have the right to seek government assistance”, he added.
