The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) strongly condemns and reprimands the leadership of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), and National Association of Colleges of Education Students (NANCES) over their unverified and misleading joint press statement regarding the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

NANS cautions all sister unions against issuing reckless public statements without prior fact-finding. Acting beyond their scope to address issues concerning the broader student body creates unnecessary chaos and undermines organized student advocacy.

Contrary to the false claims circulated by the sister unions asserting that student leadership was excluded from the JAMB Committee on Life Skills and Critical Thinking:

  1. Direct Invitation: JAMB officially invited NANS in its capacity as the apex student body to be an integral part of the committee.
  2. Official Representation: On the day of the committee’s inauguration, the NANS Vice President (Special Duties), Comr. Ernest Nkereuwem, officially represented NANS and the Nigerian student constituency.

The assertion that students were not carried along is completely baseless and untrue.

NANS hereby firmly defines the structural hierarchy and operational boundaries for all student organizations:

  1. NANS as the Apex Mother Body: NANS remains the umbrella body unifying all Nigerian students across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and the diaspora.
  2. Jurisdictional Restrictions: NAUS is restricted strictly to university affairs, NAPS to polytechnic affairs, and NANCES to colleges of education.
  3. National Policy Authority: Sister unions lack the jurisdiction or authority to address national policy engagements affecting the general student populace. General student policy advocacy remains the exclusive mandate of NANS.

On behalf of the apex leadership of Nigerian students, NANS tenders an official and unreserved apology to the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, for the embarrassment and inconvenience caused by the unwarranted media outrage triggered by the sister unions.

NANS reassures JAMB and the general public of its continued partnership and support for progressive educational policies designed to enhance the critical skills and welfare of Nigerian students.

Signed:

Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS

President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)