The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has sparked controversy with plans that could make payment of its proposed annual ₦200 dues a possible condition for students seeking mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde, revealed that the association was exploring a new system where students would pay their dues directly to the organisation, rather than through student unions and school authorities.
In a post on Facebook, Babatunde hinted that proof of payment of NANS dues could become part of the process for students to be cleared for NYSC camp mobilisation.
“We will be working with NYSC and one of the criteria to be mobilised for camp is NANS dues receipt,” he stated.
The announcement has triggered reactions among students, as the proposed arrangement could mean thousands of graduates may have to obtain a NANS payment receipt before proceeding with NYSC mobilisation.
Explaining the plan in a video, Babatunde insisted the move was not designed to impose hardship on students, stressing that the contribution would only amount to ₦200 yearly.
“This is not an avenue to stress the students further because the due is as low as 200 Naira per student in a year,” he said.
According to him, the money would be shared among different levels of the association, including zonal structures, state chapters and affiliated student bodies.
Babatunde said the decision became necessary because NANS had been struggling financially after losing access to funds traditionally collected through student union governments.
He alleged that many student unions no longer had full control of their dues, claiming that some school authorities release only a small portion of the money collected.
“About 80 to 90 per cent of student union governments are no longer in control of their dues,” he alleged.
He cited the University of Benin as an example, accusing the management of frustrating the student union’s access to funds after the union resisted a school fees increase.
Babatunde warned that starving NANS of funds could weaken its ability to defend students’ interests.
“One of the ways to cripple the organisation is to make it lack funds,” he said.
The NANS president argued that the organisation needed financial independence to effectively challenge government agencies and other institutions whenever students’ rights were at stake.
He questioned how NANS could confront powerful institutions if it depended on politicians and government officials for funding.
“How do you want people to run to politicians or government to seek their support and when they have issues with the agencies, they still want to stand and fight those agencies?” he asked.
Babatunde disclosed that NANS was considering partnerships with relevant agencies to create a platform where students could pay their dues directly to the association.
“No more to the management, no more to the SUGs, but directly to the organisation,” he said.
He added that the association would amend its laws and introduce proposals to give the new system legal backing.
According to him, the reform may not significantly benefit the current NANS leadership but would strengthen future administrations.
Babatunde also revealed that NANS receives thousands of complaints from students yearly, insisting that the organisation requires more resources to respond effectively.
“When I speak to you, I have about 3,000, 4,000 emails of student complaints… genuine complaints,” he said.
He said the association had spent money responding to emergencies involving students, including cases of kidnapping and accidents involving NANS vehicles.
“Where are those money coming from? Organisation that does not have dues,” he added.
However, it remains unclear whether NYSC will officially recognise NANS dues as a requirement for mobilisation, as the scheme currently operates under its own statutory eligibility and mobilisation guidelines.
Any move to make NANS payment compulsory for NYSC mobilisation would require formal approval and implementation.
Babatunde maintained that the proposed system was aimed at building a stronger and independent student body capable of fighting for Nigerian students.
“This is not to pressure the student. It is just about doing what is necessary so that the organisation can also be independent and stand on its own,” he said.
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