- The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is one of Nigeria's most influential pressure group
- The students body proved this recently by occupying the Indian Embassy in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja recently
- The students have issued a warning to the Niger state government over the health of its former president
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given a 7-day ultimatum to the Niger state government over the health situation of one of its former leaders.
In an emergency resolution issued in Abuja on Friday, September 1 and signed by its national president; Comrade Chukwunonso Obasi and secretary; Comrade Okoro Kenechukwu, the students body tasked the Niger State government as a matter of urgency, to take over the medical bill of Dauda Mohammed a former president of NANS from Niger state.
These are tough times for Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state. Source: Niger Times
NAIJ.com gathered that the resolution was also signed by all former presidents and former national and zonal executives members of NANS.
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The resolution was signed and endorsed in front of the Indian Embassy in Abuja, after the students body had occupied the premises of the embassy to ensure the visa of Mohammed for his medical trip to the country is given speedy consideration.
A letter written to the Indian embassy by Honourable Tony Nwoye (a former NANS president), to fast-track the visa application process of Dauda Mohammed. Source: NANS
The document seen by NAIJ.com reads in part: “Nigerian students are by this ultimatum advised to get set to mobilize themselves to Niger state as NANS secretariat will be moved to Minna as a mark of solidarity to Mohammed Dauda.
“Students are advised to come only with their clothes and reading materials for Niger state government must take care of feeding, accommodation and other expenses.
“NANS leadership and former leaders advice primary school, secondary schools and tertiary institutions management in Niger state to immediately suspend academic activities in solidarity to this national mass action.
“The palpable silence by Niger state government is a tactical plan to abandon our national leader Dauda Mohammed to die. That will be resisted, injustice anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere. The best time to act is now! Aluta continua.”
NANS also used the occasion to mark the 18th year death of one of its former president, Moses Osakede, who died on his way to Makurdi from Bauchi state.
Meanwhile, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) remains at an impasse with the federal government on the issue of the ongoing indefinite strike, NANS has called on the parties to engage in constructive engagement.
The students body made the demand during an emergency meeting convened by its leaderes recently, in which they urged both bodies to engage with a human face to resolve the lingering issues that led to the declaration of the strike.
They also lamented that the incessant and prolonged strike is one of the factors responsible for the falling standard of education in Nigeria.
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