The Oyo State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed its displeasure with the Seyi Makinde-led government over its failure to pay bursary and scholarship allowances to students from the state studying in tertiary institutions across the country.
The association in a statement by its Chairman, Adeleke Quadri and Publicity Secretary, Bakare Teslim asked the government to create job opportunities for qualified graduates and student leaders who are indigenes of the state.
NAN gave the government seven days to meet up with its demands or face mass action by all Nigerian students.
The statement read, “Considering the failed attempts of His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Oyo State to meet and deliberate some of the concerns of the student community through NANS-JCC in Oyo State, we consider such actions as an outright non-recognition of our agency, contributions to state development, particularly on issues that affect us directly, and an undermine of the power of our institution.
“NANS-JCC in Oyo State has maintained restraint on any dysfunctional action that could portray the administration of His Excellency in bad light or undermine its achievements by employing the 2Cs (Consultation and Consolidation) of the Aluta Struggle, which have now failed to yield tangible results. Hence, we will be proceeding with the third C (Confrontation) of the Aluta Struggle through a mass protest if our demands are unmet within 7 days:
OUR DEMANDS: Bursary support to Oyo State students in all tertiary institutions across the country.
“Provision of mobility (Aluta Buses) for Student Union Governments of our tertiary institutions throughout Oyo State.
“The creation of job opportunities for qualified graduates of our tertiary institutions and student leaders in Oyo state.
“The reinstatement of victimised student leaders who were wrongfully indicted for offences/crimes for which they have now been exonerated in their places of work.
“Provision of economic empowerment programs and initiatives by the State Government for Nigerian students in Oyo State.
“Increased pressure by the Oyo State Government on the Federal Government of Nigeria to meet the demands of ASUU in order to facilitate an end to the strike and to enable students to return to class. Also, we demand the delisting of the Minister of Education from the list of nominees for the national award, considering his apathy to the ASUU strike.
“Your Excellency, Sir, we would wish to have approached these issues through dialogue; however, different circumstances have made it incumbent upon us to adopt this route. While we extend our humble regards, we anticipate that the administration understands the urgency of these demands.”
