The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has proposed a new ₦200 annual dues structure that could be tied to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation process. This was revealed by NANS National President Akinteye Babatunde in Facebook posts on Sunday and Monday, as the organisation seeks to overhaul its funding model and reduce reliance on student union governments.
Proposal to Link Dues Payment to NYSC Camp Clearance
Babatunde stated that NANS plans to collaborate with the NYSC so that proof of dues payment becomes a criterion for students to be cleared for camp. "We will be working with NYSC and one of the criteria to be mobilised for camp is NANS dues receipt," he wrote. This move is part of a broader reform to enable direct collection of funds from students, bypassing the current system where student union governments and institutional managements pass on capitation payments.
The annual fee is described as minimal, with Babatunde emphasising that "This is not an avenue to stress the students further because the due is as low as 200 Naira per student in a year, 200 Naira one year per student." The proposal aims to address financial struggles that have hampered NANS's ability to respond to student emergencies and complaints.
Financial Challenges and Loss of Control Over Dues
Babatunde argued that between 80 and 90 per cent of student union governments have lost effective control over their dues, with some institutions releasing only a small fraction of collected funds to their unions. He cited the University of Benin as a specific case, alleging that management there blocked the student union from accessing its dues after the union opposed a school fees increase.
He framed the financial squeeze as a deliberate tactic. "One of the ways to cripple the organisation is to make it lack funds, to be short of funds," he said. The NANS president also disclosed that the organisation had received roughly 3,000 to 4,000 student complaint emails and had previously spent its own funds responding to emergencies, including cases involving kidnapped students. "Where are those money coming from? Organisation that does not have dues," he questioned.
Plans to Amend NANS Laws and Ensure Independence
The NANS president said the organisation would amend its laws and draft formal proposals to give the new payment system institutional backing. He acknowledged that the changes might not benefit the current executive but would leave NANS in a stronger position going forward. Babatunde also argued that financial dependence on politicians or government officials undermined NANS's ability to hold agencies accountable on behalf of students.
"This is not to pressure the student, it is just about doing the right thing that is necessary, so that the other organisation can also be independent," he said. No timeline was given for when the proposed direct payment system would take effect, and no details were provided on the formal steps needed to link dues payment to NYSC mobilisation eligibility. The NYSC operates under its own statutory procedures, and any such requirement would need to be officially established before it could apply to students.
NYSC Warns Prospective Corps Members
In related news, the National Youth Service Corps has issued a firm warning to prospective corps members, stating that anyone who fails to obtain clearance from the National Electronic Registration Database (NERD) will not be admitted into the national service programme. The NYSC gave the warning as it steps up preparations for the mobilisation of a new batch of graduates ahead of the next orientation exercise.
The proposed NANS dues system, if implemented, would mark a significant shift in how the student body funds its operations, potentially setting a precedent for other student organisations in Nigeria. However, the feasibility of linking dues to NYSC mobilisation remains uncertain, as it would require formal cooperation between NANS and a government agency with its own established protocols.
