Efio-Ita Nyok|9 September 2016
COMMUNIQUÉ OF 72ND SENATE SITTING OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS WHICH HELD AT EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY, ABAKALIKI ON 26TH TO 28TH OF AUGUST, 2016.
PREAMBLE
The 28th generation of the senate unanimously adopted to be known as the SENATE OF HOPE at its inaugural session on the campus of EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY, ABAKALIKI with 147 legal and duly elected representatives of Students' Union Governments as Senators sat on reports from various constituencies, organs, and other reports on the impact of Government policies and other public activities on the collective body of the Nigerian Studentry.
The Senate recognises that there is a new orientation of leadership at the Federal level which require a need for understanding to appreciate what the entire country is going through, the effect of which cannot be dodged by the Students Community.
However, as long as man lives on a daily basis, so also must it find solution to challenges confronting it as it appear. Based on this, the Senate of Hope took some decisions in the Hope that a collaboration with Government at various level will bear the Hope for a better Nigeria where there will be succour for all and a renewed sense of purpose to live for the greater good.
STATE OF THE NATION
The Senate throws it total support behind the resolve of the Presidency and other like minded structures of Government in the war against corruption and their bid to better the Nigeria society. While we understand the need of the Presidency to do this in stages and in a cautious progression, The Senate believes that justice must not only be seen to be done but to be done effectively.
The Senate express concern about its total capacity to Evangelise the gospel of anti-corruption in situations where report of alleged personalities becoming immune, either as a report of belonging to the Party in power or because of their closeness to certain people in power. It is the sincere belief of the Senate and entire members of NANS that the demise of corruption signifies a better educational system, a great nation with a good standard of living, and a more productive economy.
To this end, the Senate and the entire body of NANS empowers the executive under the able Presidency of Comrade Chinonso Obasi a.k.a IBB to join the Federal Government in a GENUINE and JUST war on corruption.
The Senate also observed with concern the effect of the inconsistency of the real value of the Naira of the economy and call on the Presidency to call its relevant Ministers and Appropriate Government Agencies to bring out programs aimed at stabilizing the Naira in order to avoid continuous mockery of the efforts been made by the Presidency to revamp the Nigerian Economy. It is sad to note that while there is an official price for the Naira, the street price paint a picture that makes it look like the Presidency is not in tune with the realities in the polity.
It is unacceptable to have an official price of #197 and a street price of #452. In advanced economies, certain people given responsibilities to head the concerned sectors would either have tendered their resignation honorably or be given the boot.
The Senate condemned various unpatriotic attempts and acts of terrorism aimed at undermining the drive of the Government in fulfilling it setout objectives. The Senate however, urges the Federal Government to put in place workable measures and create room for dialogue so as to quickly resolve all grey areas so as to give peace a chance and allow Nigeria move to the desired destination. The Senate appreciates the professionalism with which the Nigeria Armed Forces have been able to contain the misdemeanors in Arepo and some parts of the South South and South East of Nigeria. The Senate urges the President to direct the ever Professional Nigeria Armed Forces to ensure that the hazard of Herdsmen and the Islamic Fundamentalist should equally be attended to in the interest of the country.
The Senate frowns at the new character of inconclusive elections in the nation. The Senate is concerned that a regime that came in under elections that had globally acclaimed modifications as the card readers etc is not morally justified to return elections in Nigeria back to the prehistoric days of ballot snatching.
The Senate urges the INEC to get its act together and ensure it does nothing further that can catalyze the demise of democracy in Nigeria.
The Senate expresses concern at the growing inability of State Government in meeting the wage bills of their respective States and call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on SALARIES.
A situation in which more than 32 states can no longer meet their salary obligations is not only alarming but requires erious Political and Economic surgery. The Federal Government and the State Governments must seat together and reassess revenue generation and sharing drive with the aim of finding a lasting solution to this growing national disgrace.
If in the course of this undertaking, the Federal Government and the State Governments discover that the monies that can help in solving this crisis is in the hands of individuals and corporations, they should not hesitate to publish such with facts and figures and the ever collaborative and cooperative students of Nigeria will assist in flushing them out and bringing them before the machinery of justice in Nigeria as long as the list is not selective and the action does not give room for sacred cows.
This issue of unpaid salaries also affect the students community in the aspect of unpaid allowances by ITF. The Senate calls on the Federal Government and all security apparatus that before Nigeria Students in its entirety descend on the ITF physically, metaphysically and spiritually, measures at working out means of settling this challenge must be activated.
The Senate also charges the National Assembly to task its committees concerned with the workings of the ITF to engage in immediate oversight with the view of finding a quick solution to this challenge.
STATE OF CAMPUSES
The Senate viewed with concern that over 17 years after the return to Democratic rule to Nigeria our campuses continue to show a high level of undemocratic practices which continue to have a very negative effect on the economy. Various report from our campuses paint a picture of the Nigeria of the 90's where constitutionally guaranteed freedom are now taboos. A child growing up under the tutelage of the present administration in our campuses is a prospective psychological problem to our society tomorrow.
A child denied freedom of speech is beginning to find expression in arson, a child denied freedom of association and unionism is now taking solace in cultism, militancy and fundamental extremism. A child denied right to education is now beginning to see a life of crime as a derivable alternative.
The Senate condemns in its totality the massacre that occurred at Abdul Gusau Polytechnic Talata Mafarawa, Zamfara State, the killing of students by the men of Nigerian Police in Nassarawa Polytechnic, Lafia, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Ogun State and University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State e.t.c
The Senate calls on Minister of Education and Inspector General of Police to apprehend the Culprits involved to show to the world that there is a new order in Governance in Nigeria. The Senate also called on all authorities concerned to activate a community relations body that will consist of affected security apparatus and leadership of the students community.
It is unacceptable to The Senate of Hope that after over 17 years of Democratic rule in Nigeria, School management are still hounding properly elected Students Union Governments and substituting them with autocratically handpicked undemocratic caretaker committees. For people paid with tax payer's monies to continue to train militants rather than train Democrats is a representation of the height of lack of administration capacity evident in our tertiary institutions today. To this end, The Senate charged all authorities who have taking such decisions to immediately revert to the Order of Democracy and the popular will of the people. Some of these authorities include UNILAG,OAU, ABU ZARIA, FEDPOFFA e.t.c
STATE OF NANS
The Senate of Hope is not unaware of the desperate activities of some Professional students and their unemployed masters in whom the devil have create an industry as a result of perennial idleness as they desperately attempt to paint a scenario of a divided National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS). The NANS is one and has only one Senate which is The Senate of Hope that works in conjunction with the authentic Presidency of NANS under Comrade Chinonso Obasi aka IBB.
Elections were held into the following offices of the association:
The Executives are;
Vice President (National Affairs)- Comrade Emmanuel Odumosu (Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State)
Vice President (External Affairs)-Comrade Afolabi Aguda.
Osun State College of Technology Esa Oke, Osun State.
Vice President Special Duties- Comrade Amtai Ali Saidu (Federal College of Education Technical, Gombe State)
Financial Secretary- Comrade Mbeh Sagas Etta (University of Calabar, Cross Rivers
Treasurer- Comrade Jonah Adokiye (University of Port Harcourt)
Director of Travel & Exchange- Comrade Akanji Olawale
(Kwara State Polytechnic)
Ex-officio I- Comrade Adebayo Nurudeen O.
(Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State)
Vacancy exist in the following offices: Deputy Senate President, Director of Sport, AGS, Ex-Officio-II.
Long live NANS!
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
Signed by;
Comrade Aitija Yemi. Chairman,
Communique Drafting Committee.
08052510400, 08169625455
Comr. Taiwo Bamigbade.
Senate President,
National Association of Nigerian Students
07067995571, 07054044168
Efio-Ita Nyok
