Ogun NANS Leaders Deny JCC Removal Claims, Cite Constitutional Breach
Student leaders under the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Ogun State have firmly dismissed claims of a purported suspension or removal of executives of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC). They described this development as false and a deliberate attempt to destabilize the student body, raising concerns about its impact on unity and order.
Open Letter Challenges Alleged Senate Decision
In an open letter addressed to the National President of NANS, Olushola Oladoja, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Presidents in the Ogun State axis asserted that there was no valid Senate sitting where such a decision was reached. The student leaders alleged that the controversy is being fueled by unscrupulous elements seeking to create an artificial crisis within the association. They insisted that any statement claiming the suspension of JCC executives does not reflect the constitutional position of NANS.
The letter was jointly signed by SUG Presidents from multiple institutions, including:
- Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye
- Federal College of Education, Abeokuta
- D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori
- Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Ijebu-Ode
- Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences (OSPOHAS), Ilese-Ijebu
- Federal Polytechnic Ilaro (now Federal University of Technology, Ilaro)
- Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo
- Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade, Saapade
Questions Raised Over Document Authenticity
According to the signatories, the statement attributed to some senators contained names of institutions not recognized within the NANS structure. They noted that some listed schools lack accredited status or legitimate SUG representation, raising serious questions about the authenticity of the document and the motives behind it. This discrepancy has led to heightened scrutiny and calls for verification.
Legitimacy of JCC Chairman Reaffirmed
The student leaders reaffirmed the legitimacy of the current JCC Chairman, stating that he was duly accredited at both the NANS National Convention and the Zone D South-West Convention. They maintained that his emergence followed due constitutional processes and reflected broad acceptance among stakeholders. Additionally, they dismissed claims questioning the Chairman’s student status, clarifying that he is a full-time conversion student affiliated with the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, and not a part-time student as alleged.
Concerns Over Tension and Security Implications
The SUG Presidents expressed concern that the ongoing controversy has heightened tension among student leaders and even drawn the attention of security agencies in the state. They warned that such developments could undermine the credibility of NANS if not properly addressed, potentially leading to unrest and disruption of academic activities.
Constitutional Arguments Against Removal
Citing provisions of the NANS constitution, the student leaders argued that the Senate lacks the authority to remove an officer on the grounds of eligibility. They noted that such powers are limited to cases involving negligence, embezzlement, or misappropriation of funds, emphasizing that the current allegations do not meet these criteria.
Calls for National Intervention and Support
The group called on the NANS National President to intervene by engaging the Senate leadership to investigate the matter and restore order. They urged him to publicly clarify that the alleged directive does not represent the official position of the national body. Furthermore, they appealed for support to conclude the ongoing transition process in Ogun State, including the activities of the Independent Convention Planning Committee (I-CPC), which they said had already been constituted following a successful pre-convention.
In their statement, the SUG Presidents outlined specific requests:
- We respectfully urge the National President to use his good office to liaise with the NANS Senate President to thoroughly investigate the matter and revisit his position, in order to restore clarity, peace, and constitutional order within NANS Ogun State Axis.
- We urge the National President to publicly clarify that the said position is not the official verdict of NANS National, so as to clear the air and prevent further tension and misinformation within the student community and among security agencies.
- We request the necessary support and institutional backing to peacefully conclude the NANS Ogun State Axis transition process already in the pipeline, especially now that the Pre-Convention has been successfully held and the I-CPC Committee has been constituted and announced.
- We appeal that the I-CPC Committee be given every necessary support to conduct a peaceful, credible, transparent, and inclusive convention that reflects the collective interest and democratic will of all Nigerian students in Ogun State.
Commitment to Peace and Constitutional Order
The SUG Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, unity, and constitutional order within the Ogun State axis of NANS. They urged stakeholders and the public to disregard what they described as misleading narratives, expressing confidence in the leadership of the national body to resolve the dispute and ensure that due process prevails in the affairs of the association.
