The National Association of Nigerian Student NANS Zone F, comprising all states in the South East held an emergency meeting in Abia state on July 16, 2022. The meeting which was presided over by the DEPUTY Coordinator Comrade Ejike PraiseGod in the absence of the Zonal Coordinator deliberated primarily on the 5 month old strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU and the insensitivity of the federal government towards tackling the issues raised by ASUU, ASUP, COEASU, NASU and issued a communiqué containing a member of far reaching resolutions.
The association condemned in totality the incessant strike action by ASUU which has lasted for five months and the lackadaisical attitude of the federal government towards tackling the issues of university workers including ASUU, COEASU, NASU and SSNU urging the government to sit up to her responsibilities and priorities education in the country as education of every Nigerian is a right not a privilege hence the effect of incessant striker on Nigerian students in Nigerian and the zone it pathetic . they therefore appealed that situation requires effective quick response from the federal government of Nigeria.
The zonal council commended the effort of the national executive council of NANS in mounting pressure on the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities on the industrial actions embarks and that the National Executive Council NEC of NANS must not back down till the strike is ended.
Touching on other national issues the Zone F of NANs declared that it has not endorsed any presidential candidate but re-assures Nigerian students of their unwavering commitment that is void of compromise and sentiment but to remain steadfast towards achieving set goals and objectives of the association.
Other issues contained in the communiqué read as follows:
“The Association frowned at the rate of insecurity in the Country at Large, sighting from the unfortunate recent prison break at Nigeria Prison Service, Kuje ,Abuja by alleged bandits and mandated the federal government and the security agencies of the country to step up to thier responsibilities by devising a substantial security tactics on the entire security in the country.
“The Association commend the Executive Governor of Anambra state, Prof.Soludo Charles on his relentless efforts geared towards the insecurity challenges in his state and encourage him to do more. We also condemned the rate of killings, insurgencies and kidnapping cases in other south Eastern States and urge other Governors to consolidate more on their respective efforts towards the insecurity.
“STATE OF CAMPUSES.
Council expressed happiness and appreciated Nigerian students schooling in the zone for their maximum support during the NEC declared protest in the country. The ZEC NANS zone F commended members and further assured that the struggle will continue until the strike is called off.
“The Association empathize with the Students and the University management of Federal University of Technology, Owerri ( FUTO ) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University ,Awka ( UNIZIK ) and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria over the vandalization of thier universities facilities by some unknown criminal elements and urge the universities management to liase with the federal and state government and including all other reasonable security agencies in their respective states to ensure that efforts are put in place to beef up the security challenges in the campuses for the interest of Nigeria Students, Staff and the entire universities community, hence the need to strengthen the school securities into a more formidable force is sacrosanct.
“The Association frowned and condemned the rate of insecurity at Okigwe / Uturu Route which has led to series of illegal adoption of our Students from Abia State University, uturu , killings and insurgencies by some criminal elements. We hereby urge the Government of Abia State and the Government of imo state to effectively liase with all the reasonable security agencies to bring a lasting solution to the already established challenge.
“The Association received with dismay over the outcome of the Students’ Union Government Election of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba where a student who pulled the highest number of votes after the vote counts was disqualified and the Second runner up was declared winner due to an alleged electoral malpractice cum irregularities, hence we condemn the unprofessional attitude of the Electoral Committee members headed by the Dean Student Affairs. With reference to the committee that was constituted by the School management to investigate the overall electoral process and with the rumors of the SUG inauguration, regardless of the fact that the committee is still investigating the process.
“We hereby resolved that the privileges associated with the Students Union Government of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba is hereby pending and subjected to the final outcome of the investigation. Hence all necessary engagements with Nigerian Students from the aforementioned institution will be done directly henceforth.
“The Association frowned at the inability of the management of Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra State to conduct a free, fair and a credible election as the Students’ Union Government Election held on 11th May, 2022 was cancelled as a result of Electoral irregularities and they failed in their responsibility to fix a new date for a rerun despite the intervention of the Association and all well meaning Nigerian Students, but the management in a bid to disenfranchise the Students from electing their leaders went further to set up a Student Union Government care taker committee which is also against the modus operandi of the Association and even after an Ultimatum from the leadership of NANS Anambra State Axis, dated , 1st July 2022 : In view of the above , the Association will be relocating her Secretariat to the aforementioned institution on Tuesday, being 19th July 2022 to exercise her constitutional franchise as enshrined in the Constitution of NANS , hence the Financial secretary of the Zone ,Comr Okafor Earnest as the Zonal leader of the State is hereby confered with the Constitutional authority to make all the necessary arrangements with her state team to ensure that the last C of the 3C’s of NANS is strictly followed on the above mentioned date as the Zonal leadership will be fully involved. The Council also condemned the rate of exorbitant fees the students are mandated to pay and directed for the management to revert immediately.
“The Council unanimously agreed to continue to pursue its Agenda to enthrone
democratically elected students’ unions of schools in the zone.
“The Council charged her members to ensure that all the schools in the zone maintain democratic structure in leadership composition. The Council warned school managements to desist from interfering in the affairs of students’ unions in the zone and declared that students union is like other unions(ASUU, ASUP, NASU) operating in our schools enjoying independence. Council further directed that the schools whose students union leadership tenure is due should organise a free, fair and credible elections.
“On JCC in the various states, the Council resolved to take proactive steps in complying with the provisions of the new constitution, hence all States that are yet to conduct the election of JCC are hereby mandated to ensure that all elections are concluded on or before 25th of August, 2022 , failure to comply as resolved will attract an irremediable penalty as a pioneer leadership and therefore call on stakeholders in the various states to assist in this regard.
“NANS NATIONAL CONVENTION
The Council agreed that there is need for harmonization of interest so that the zone will remain united during and after the national elective congress/Convention of the association. The Council also agreed to propose to the stakeholders of the zone on possible partnership with our sister zone of South South zone as to maintenance of old power block default zone b for a common Agenda in the national election. They were other issues contained in the communiqué.”
