National Association of Nigerian Students has passed a vote of confidence on the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, distancing the union from the declaration of war against the minister by a faction of the union led by Comrade Tijani Shehu
Briefing newsmen in Abuja, president of NANS, Comrade Ali Wali condemned the call by the factional leader of the association on President Jonathan to sack the minister over what he called dishonourable actions.
He said the union has set up a committee to sanitize the association and rid it of dissidents who have converted the association that was once the Nigerian students’ pride into a full time business run by a cabal of non students.
Observers of NANS activities have expressed concerns over what seems to be a “cash and carry” activism by the students’ body. It will be recalled that during last year’s long strike by the Academic staff of Universities, NANS responded with “sponsored” protests and mini rallies in support of the federal government.
The association has been in the trade of political endorsments in the current dispensation. Whether the proposed sanitization of the association will restore the dignity of the once respected union, will be seen in days to come.
