The leadership of three major student bodies has rejected claims by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that their demand for representation in the JAMB Committee on Life Skills and Critical Thinking amounts to misinformation and jurisdictional overreach.
In a joint press statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), and National Association of Colleges of Education Students (NANCES) said they will not be silenced in advocating for their constituencies.
The statement, titled “We Will Not Be Silenced: Student Representation Requires Consultation, Not Declarations,” was signed by Comr. Dr. Meshach Anthony Nwankwo of NAUS, Comr. Jimoh Ibrahim Ajadi of NAPS, and Comr. Kur Isaac Ushahemba of NANCES.
The unions said they had taken note of a statement issued by NANS concerning their earlier intervention on student representation in the JAMB committee
According to them, being an apex body does not make NANS the only organisation with the right to speak on issues affecting students.
“We were elected to represent, advocate for, mobilise and communicate with our respective constituencies, not to occupy offices for decoration,” the statement read.
“Perhaps, NANS has forgotten, that we are the grassroots leaders of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education and have direct grip on our constituencies. NAUS represents university students, NAPS represents polytechnic students, and NANCES represents students of Colleges of Education. Our mandates and responsibilities are legitimate.”
The three associations queried whether they were formally informed, consulted or invited to nominate representatives when the JAMB committee was constituted.
“If not, NANS cannot equate the presence of one NANS representative with consultation and representation of all sister unions and every category of tertiary student,” they said.
They stressed that their intervention was directed at an issue concerning their constituents and was not an attack on NANS nor an attempt to usurp its role. They added that if there was any misunderstanding, consultation would have been more appropriate than public condemnation.
The unions also extended their concern to other government interventions, including those involving TETFUND and other initiatives affecting tertiary institutions, asking whether sister unions must learn about programmes concerning their constituencies from the media after decisions have been taken.
They further cited a recent engagement with the Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, where NANS had acknowledged the participation of NAUS, NAPS and NANCES and a joint tour of Federal Government road projects was proposed.
“Were the sister-union Presidents informed of the tour itinerary? Were they invited to participate or nominate representatives? If an engagement was conceived as a joint student exercise, implementation should also reflect that understanding,” the statement queried.
Reaffirming their belief in the unity of Nigerian students, the unions said unity should not mean silence and apex representation should not be a licence for unilateralism.
“Unity requires communication, consultation, respect and inclusion,” they said.
They vowed to continue to advocate for their respective constituencies, demand transparency in student-related interventions and raise legitimate concerns whenever their interests are affected.
“If NANS wants unity, let there be communication. If NANS wants cooperation, let there be consultation. If NANS wants stronger student representation, let all legitimate student structures have a seat at the table,” the statement added.
“We were not elected to become figureheads with mere titles, we will represent our students and we will not apologise for fulfilling that mandate.”
