The National Association of Nigerian Students will hold its National Convention at the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki in May 2018.
The date was agreed at the end of NANS 74th National Senate /Pre-convention Meeting held at Niger State College of Education, Minna.
A communiqué, signed by NANS Senate President, Taiwo Bamigbade, said that the tenure of incumbent leadership had long elapsed, hence the need for a convention to elect new national officers.
The communiqué made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja said the NANS’ Senate unanimously resolved to ensure transparent, fair and credible electioneering process that would ensure unity among Nigerian students.
It said: “The Senate adopted Ebonyi State as venue for 2018 National convention; more so, the convention planning committee shall be constituted and presented to the public after due consultation with relevant stakeholders.
“The Senate tentatively resolved on May 17 to May 20 as date for National Convention at the above mentioned venue to be confirmed base on viability by the committee.’’
The communiqué condemned the devotion of only 7.4 per cent of annual budget to Education as against 26 per cent recommended by UNESCO, and urged the National Assembly to increase the education vote before passage of the 2018 appropriation bill.
It warned that the students would stage a protest if the education budget was not reviewed upward.
It said: “NANS Senate, in the communiqué, applauded Federal Government and in particular the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing under Babatunde Fashola for the Energising Education Project.
“The EEP project will be of immense benefit to Nigerian students; therefore we call for the unconditional lift of embargo on the execution of the project.”
The Senate also called for the inclusion of more tertiary institutions into the project, saying it was dissatisfied with the choice of only 38 Universities.
The communiqué urged the Federal Government to be wary of any action capable of promoting discrimination among Nigerian students as they were entitled to equal and fair treatment.
It also commended the Federal Ministry of Education for the planned introduction of Psychometric as GST Course in all tertiary institutions in the country, because of its benefits to Nigerian students.
Psychometric is a field of study concerned with the objective measurement of skills and knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality traits, and educational achievement.
On the reoccurring killings in parts of the country, the NANS Senate called for the immediate deployment of soldiers to forestall further loss of lives and property.
NANS to hold National Convention
