NANS issue stern warning to Niger state governor
– National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has given the Niger state government a 7-days ultimatum
– The group said failure to meet their demands would resolve in a three days protest
– The students are demanding introduction of overseas scholarship and restructuring the moribund bursary scheme
File photo of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state.
The leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) Zone A axis, Niger State is set for a showdown with the state government as it has given a 7-days ultimatum to address both open and salient issues raised in the memo sent to it.
The students group threatening that, failure to do so will resolve in a three days protest,tagged, “Occupy NIGER”.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the state governor, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Sanni Belo on Saturday, May 7, which was signed by Comrade Faruk Musa.M. and Comrade Ismail Oyebanji, the chairman and secretary, Joint Campus Committee,JCC/NANS,Zone A,Niger axis respectively.
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In the letter, titled,”When silence is no longer Gold”, a copy which was obtained by our correspondent, the students decried the situation of things in the State, especially,in the education sector, vowed to redeem it from,those according to them, “the jaws and claws of hawks, who do not mean well for the states.
Part of the students demands, include immediate convocation of town hall meeting/parley with the leadership of the union, introduction of overseas scholarship in specialized fields like; Medicine, Nursing, as well as restructuring the moribund bursary scheme inherited from the previous administration.
Others are; declaration of state of emergency in some institutions in the state due to the bad situation there.
The institutions are namely; Polytechnic, Zungeru, College of Agriculture, Mokwa, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, IBBU, Lapai and all health institutions in the state and appointment of some qualified past leaders of the Union into the government.
The students reminded the governor of the roles played by their members and past leaders during the last general elections, where most of them paid for supporting the present government.
“We mobilized our members to follow your campaigns for months, as well as votes massively at the polls for you, defying all the money shared by the PDP government.
“Apart from monitoring the election at the Control Room which some of your cabinet members are aware of, we pluck all the loop-holes and leakages to stem the PDPs stock-in-trade (rigging) towards subverting the votes of the masses.
“A lot of students paid the ultimate prize for the change we enjoy today, as many leaders faced brutalization, self-exile, molestation, intimidation and persecution”, NANS stated.
According to the statement:” the leadership of NANS is compelled to write this open letter to you, having carefully observed with uttered dismay the share disregard, neglect, repugnance, antagonism, emasculations meted on the entire Nigerian Students Community in Niger State by your administration and cabinet members towards our rights and privileges as Nigerian Students and all other citizenry, Nigerlites.
“For the avoidance of doubt, NANS is the apex umbrella student body, that rotates the wheels of students activism in Nigeria, being the voice of the voiceless, vanguard of the oppressed masses and custodians of the sacred trust of Nigerian Students.
“After exhaustive consultation with all relevant stakeholders, SUG’s, tribal associations on the prevailing quagmires, we resolve that the status-quo is completely unacceptable, considering the significant role the students played in the enthronement of the present government.
“Almost one year after Mr. governor, you have not find it worthy to engage the students on the policy direction of the state in the education sector and other relevant sectors, but Globe-trotting the world on weekly basis at the expense of the state governance with little or no investment/investors to show for such trips.
“While we have kept fate with believe that this bad posture would change soon, we are abash and astound to hear that certain cabal have appointed more than thousand Special Assistants/Advisers with salaries running into hundreth of millions at this critical economic hardship, leaving education and other critical sectors yearnings for emergency.
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“Obvious, it is to all eyes that we do not need a 3-Star Hotel, but 3-Star General hospital, 3-Star educational Infrastructure, 3-Star portable water, 3-Star Electricity e.t.c . Mr. Governor this was not the Change you promised Nigerlites. This is a complete departure from the promised of an all inclusive participatory Change government you promised.
“As responsible and law abiding children, we have agreed to rescind all our supposed plan of mass action for 7 days ultimatum, starting from Tuesday, 10 May, 2016.
“We have refused to be cowed, we have refused to be silenced, we have refused to remain on-lookers in the affairs of the state, especially, in the education sector.
“We need to gets our priorities right and do away from the former jamboree that have brought us into this. Be warned, our students are primed, only awaiting directions”, NANS threatens.
In its submission,the Students group disclosed that their doors are widely open for deliberations and discussion, advising that, “a stitch in time, saves nine”.
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