The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) received, with grave concern, the disturbing news that threatens the liberty and freedom of the students of the Nigeria Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), following the decision by the Management, under the leadership of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Auwal Mustapha Imam, FNIP, to ban the Students' Union Government (SUG) in the institution.

As the apex leadership of Nigerian students, both within Nigeria and in the diaspora, saddled with the responsibility of representing the interests and collective will of Nigerian students, we condemn in its entirety this unilateral decision.

This ban is an aberration of the highest order and a direct assault on the fundamental rights of students, who, without a doubt, have the right to freedom of association.

To be unequivocal, the Management lacks the prerogative to ban Students' Union activities, let alone to do so without a viable objective or convincing justification. Indeed, there can be no justification of sufficient weight to warrant suppression, oppression, and intimidation of this magnitude.

To us, as the apex leadership of Nigerian students, this is tyranny, dictatorship, and injustice, and it cannot be allowed to stand. Just as a governing council or government cannot ban staff unions, the Management likewise does not have the authority to ban a Students' Union Government that exists to safeguard the welfare of the student populace through quality representation.

In light of the foregoing, we call on the Management of NILEST to immediately reverse this decision to ban the Students' Union Government in the institution. Furthermore, we enjoin the Management to embrace the path of peace through dialogue, as the leadership of NANS will explore every legitimate means available to ensure that the rights of Nigerian students are not taken from them.

The leadership of NANS stands firmly opposed to tyranny, oppression, and every act of intimidation aimed at suppressing students and silencing their voices. We will not stand idly by while the rights of Nigerian students are trampled upon. We remain resolutely committed to advancing the collective will of Nigerian students and advocating for their improved welfare.

Signed:

Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS

President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)