The President, National Association of
Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Yinka
Gbadebo, has denied claims that the
group wanted to mobilize its members
against the federal government over the
prolonged strike by university lecturers.
Gbadebo gave the clarification in Ibadan,
the Oyo State capital recently, adding that
NANS has not, at any time, taken any
official position and neither does anybody
possess any authority to speak on behalf
of the association. Referring to earlier
statements by some officers of the
association that threatened fire against
the federal government after an
expiration of 14 days ultimatum, Gbadebo
said such message was master minded by
some disgruntled elements that reap
benefits from crisis.
He expressed surprise that such
statement could be issued by some
officers at a time when the association
was still mourning the passage of the late
NANS Senate President, Donald Onukaogu
and four others who died in an auto
crash, at the heat of the University of Uyo
crisis.
Gbadebo explained that NANS
constitution only authorises the President
and the Public Relations Officer to make
statements on behalf of the association,
stressing that such statements must be
after due consultation.
On the ongoing strike by the Academic
Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),
Gbadebo observed that the position of
NANS remains the same, as he made a
renewed call to ASUU to return to classes
in the interest of their students. He
urged the union to call off the action and
resume negotiation with the government
towards a permanent solution to its
agitations. “The myriads of problems in
the education sector require all
stakeholders to come together and
articulate a common demand.
A situation where one union shuts the
entire education system is not only
counter-productive but unhealthy in the
face of global competitiveness,” he said.
Gbadebo warned the lecturers against
keeping students at home longer than
necessary, noting that such act portends a
great danger to their future. He also
frowned at the federal government poor
commitment to educational development.
“NANS does believe that ASUU has the
interest of students at heart. The sincerity
of ASUU over the years has been critically
evaluated as it’s been noted that while
hiding under the cover of making
demands for educational development,
ASUU has rather been concerned with
their personal welfare. And once
government fulfils this they down tools,”
he said.
NANS called on ASUU to look beyond
transient benefits and pursue the cause
to the benefit of all. “We frown at ASUU
for usually neglecting students but only
calling on us to support them via protests
and press statements whenever they are
on strike. Where has ASUU been when
student leaders are victimised by various
lecturers?
Where has ASUU been when our female
students are continually intimidated and
sexually harassed by randy lecturers?
ASUU needs to sit up,” he said. Gbadebo
urged government at all levels to find
lasting solution to the insurgency in the
north.
He said that the huge government
spending on defence and the unabated
terror of Boko Haram has shown that only
economic justice can permanently resolve
the Boko Haram menace.
He, however, condemned the terror
group, saying that they are employing the
wrong approach to resolving the problems
of the country, as killing innocent citizens
would only aggravate the nation’s
problem. He advised President Goodluck
Jonathan to act as the father of the
nation, by calling on actors in the Rivers
State crisis to sheathe their sword for the
interest of the nation’s democracy.
Akinola is a 400 level, Political Science,
OAU, Ile-Ife.

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