THE UNJUSTIFIABLE EXPLOITATION OF KWARAPOLY STUDENTS

"Revolution is the religion of fighters for freedom, who pursue justice and righteous, the religion of those who crave freedom and the school of resisters of exploiters."

The leadership of National Association of Polytechnics Students (NAPS) frown at the N10,000 late registration penalty introduce by the Kwara state polytechnic management on both fresh and returning students with a week ultimatum when portal and registration activities will finally be closed. The students database had earlier been deactivated by the management at exactly a week after the last bash of the school admission list was released and at a time SIWES students were just returning back to school following a late notification warning sent to concerned students.

From whatever angle we wish to decipher the registration penalty, it is a harsh decision coming at a time the nation is battling economic crisis, unions going on strikes due to non payment of members salaries, traders lamenting the drastic drop of Naira to Dollar and governors resisting the payment of N18,000 minimum wage.Financial constrain obviously, is the sole reason most students couldn't meet up registration deadline and any further increase in fees will be tantamount to exploitation of unjustifiable motives.

NAPS expresses displeasure as the school authorities closes her eyes to the current economic status of the state and the country as a whole, such incremental decision is never expected of a state owned institution where state government owe workers salaries. It is to stress the obvious that students directly or indirectly rely on workers salaries to survive on campus, while self sponsored students stake very high to maintain studentship.

We reach out to all concerned students to keep their calm embrace decorum as we engage the polytechnic management on consultation and consolidation ideology of Aluta, we also advice no student subscribe to the registration penalty while negotiations last. With optimism we assure victory at the end of the struggle for we believe the listening attributes of the school and the doggedness of our comrades.

NAPS appeal to the management to reverse the penalty, make refunds to students who have paid and further give extension till January before registration closes. We are bent on this struggle, our stands is never to be compromised and we won't hesitate confrontation on the exhaust of our first 2Cs of Aluta.

Signed
Comr Olugbode Damola (D-mode)
NAPS National PRO

COALESClNG OSUN STATE OWNED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS: A TECHNOLOGICAL RETROGRESSION

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), which is the mother association of all Polytechnics, Monotechnics, Colleges of Education, Colleges of Technology and other allied Institutions awarding National and higher National Diploma, have studied the recent disposition of the Osun state government to technical education and we see it as diametrically opposed to the progressive technological aspiration and dynamic technological emancipation of this country to a technologically advanced country.

It is highly pathetic and sympathetic that at a time the world is celebrating technicalities and embracing advancement of technological innovations, China with her endowment of technology converting over 600 universities to polytechnics as a reforming process to boost the production of technically trained graduates, a government in Nigeria could be proposing the conversion of polytechnics to tutorial centers by merging up four Institutions on the plans to restructure them.

Osun state government has failed woefully it's responsibilities to the educational sector, starved academic workers their pay, cause students months at home to idle away, kill private secondary education with high taxes, turn deaf ears to stakeholders agitation, propose merger of limited tertiary institutions rather providing progressive prescription to the underfunded educational sector in the state.

The impetuous decision of requesting the removal of the four state owned institutions from jamb directory without  considering candidates who already chose the schools as their preferred choice of institution, students currently counting the school calender for their days on campus, and alumni banking on the alma-mata, revealed the gap between the isolated government and her people.

The downsizing shock that will erupt from the merger contrary to the employment opportunities promised by the APC indicates an ideological derail that requires an urgent attention before hope is lost and a no confidence vote is cast on the party. Regrets rocking our hearts to have invested and supported a failed government whose reward of appreciation is months of industrial actions and scraping of our institutions.

Petitions, appeals, press briefing, etc. have all been at one time or the other forwarded by several student leaders to express our displeasure on the action plan but without any appreciable result. The leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) perceive the development as a threat to technology advancement and an effort to sabotage the struggle of abolishing Hnd /Bsc dichotomy.

There may be times we are powerless to prevent injustice but there should never be a time we fail to protest. The day a society stops to protest, that day marks the beginning of the end of progress in that society. The leadership of NAPS enjoin the executive governor of Osun State to reverse his decision on converting our Institutions to tutorial centers or risk meeting with millions of armless battalion students in the spirit of true activism.


Osun State Polytechnic Iree, College of Technology Esa-Oke, College of Education Ila-Orangun and College of Education Ilesha have all been in existence before the inception of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in office and will continue to remain even after the lapses of his tenure, as any attempt to merge or scrap our schools is a war that will meet the readiness of armless soldiers.

Signed
Comr Olugbode H. Damola (D-mode)
NAPS National PRO

NIGERIA AT 55: THE STRUGGLE FOR MERITOCRATISATION OF EDUCATION CONTINUES (POLYTECHNICS MUST AWARD B.TECH)

Our demands remains sacrosanct !

Fifty-five years ago Nigerians fly’s the flag of freedom, the heroic rough and tough journey, the history of welfare, pogroms, massacres, assassinations, misguided ballot and misdirected bullets, the catalogue of catastrophes, the options of the confederations, the women liberationist, the labour unionist, students unionist, the prime ministerialists, the presidentialists, the collective dictatorists, the welfarists, the democratic, the socialist, the zero-party mentocrats, the static’s, the religionists, the provincialisms, the one-party unitarists, the multi-party federationists, the indigenous traditionist, the communalists, the revolutionary socialist, the French systemists, the billionairists, the anarchists even the coalitions of armed robbers,so many postulations for today’s existence.

NIGERIAN STUDENTS STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL EMANCIPATION

Nigerian students involvement in the Nigerian struggle is dated far before independence, the protest against the visitation of queen Elizabeth ii to Nigeria in 1956, demonstration against the colonial administration demanding for immediate independence for Nigeria when Ghana gained independence in 1957, countless revolutionary jihad for the democratization of education in Nigeria, the role of segun okeowo in eliminating illiteracy and eradicating ignorance.  Consolidating predecessors  struggles by the present generation of Nigerian students, struggle against disorganization, maladministration of the system, poverty, ignorance, conspicuous disease and other “mortuary wreckages” that litter the whole country.

THE NIGERIANS WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION 

To describe Nigerian’s economic and social dilemma as masculine is to stress the obvious, the war against corruption from a leader with masculine orientation (military) is the long expected prescription to the menace but not in a feminine, gradualist and moderate approach the president is giving the Nation’s daily increasing problems. The  lunching of war against corruption by the PMB administration is a welcome phenomenon however it should not be a political whip, witch-hunting or mare scary political statement. We like to assert that corruption is not exclusive preserve of the politicians but rather a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society.

A CALL FOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF HND/BSC DICHOTHOMY 

For decades vibrant student leaders have been pushing the struggle to equate Higher National Diploma certificate to Bachelors degree. The  campaign of war against the greater corruption in the education sector, the injustice of HND / BSC discrimination from point of admission to the labour market, calls to notice of our derailing system from the legacies of the foreigners we tends to be emulating, comparison of our education  standard with Ghanaians whose polytechnics awards Bachelor in Technology. 

The verbal  pronunciation of equating the two certificate by president Olusegun Obasanjo (fmr), reversal of the statement and latter upgrading four polytechnic to city university by president Musa Yar’adu, also upgrade reversal and setting up of committee to look into the duo certificates latter announcing upgrade of four colleges of education to university of education by president Goodluck Jonathan and also the reversal of the upgrade by the incumbent president is a clear picture of corruption at its peak. The abolishment of HND/ BSC dichotomy remains the panacea to the root cause of corruption in Nigeria.

FINALLY I hold the opinion that the past of Nigeria is black, that the present is bleak and that the future is blank. Because the future is blank however, there seems to be some ray of hope. This is why the struggle for meritocratisation of education (polytechnics must award b.tech) is not futile.

Long live Nigeria 

Struggle continues 

Victory is certain 

Signed

Comrade Olugbode Damola (D-Mode)

National NAPS PRO

NAPS APPEAL THE PREVENTION OF ASUP NATION WIDE SRIKE.

The Nigeiria we are trying to build is a Nigeria where hard work and sweat in service will be commended and encouraged, not a nation where workers will be deprived their pay in delay, exposed to poverty, miserable and impecuniousness after hard work.

Appealing rescue from federal government of Nig to save Nigeria Polytechnic Students future became imperative as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is set for a nation wide industrial action over the nonpayment of members salaries in six States including Oyo, Osun, Plateau, Benue, Abia and Imo.

We contend it is nothing cut short of insensitivity, callousness and wickedness for any institution or government to be indebted to it's workers much as eight to ten months. The refusal, reluctant and delay in salary payment is an agent of frustration capable of crippling peace and orderliness in a country.

Considering the polytechnic community is yet to recover from a thirteen months nation wide strike which paralysis the 2013/2014 academic session, that boils down to the loss of the students and the highest price payer during and after the strike. Our leadership can not afford staying back at home watch our future altered or joked with.

We solidarise and join the staff union in condemning the callous act of state governments oweing lecturers for as much as eight to ten months, we declare our support to the union getting their pay from concerns state governments by all means other than closing our institutions.

With all patriotism we implore all concerned state governments to as a matter of urgency see to the payment of all salaries/ allowances arrears, any further delay will call for mass solidarity action, students taking to the streets to seek payment of our lecturers and academic resumption of affected institutions.

Also do we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and end the unnecessary dichotomy between Bachelors Degree and Higher National Diploma, the establishment of National Commission for Polytechnics and the implantation of the needs assessment report.

Signed
Comrade Olugbode Damola (D-Mode)
NAPS National P.R.O

THE PROSCRIPTION/ DISSOLUTION OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC ILARO STUDENTS UNION GOVERNMENT

The newly elected executive of NAPS under the leadership of Comr Adeyeye Olugbenga (Pilot), condemn the recent announcement to proscribe the Union Government of Federal Poly Ilaro, we urged the management of the school to retrace its decision on dissolving, suspending or placing ban on the Students Union Government of its school.

Our leadership is quite aware of the prompt intervention of the outgoing EXCO of NAPS on the issue from onset, we appreciate and commend their swift and rapid interference as we take up the task and struggle. We stand to inherit the state of campuses and will be responsible for it.

The new leadership of NAPS demands the proscribed union is called back to operations, we feel it is nothing short of scapegoatism on the part of the institutions authority to clamp down on our students leaders, as the proscription is in accordance with the demand by protest which lead to the closure of the institutions.

Proscription of students union government have never been, can never and will never be solutions to the problems of students protest, it will only be tantamount to exposing the school to wrath of injustice and corruption, rendering the students helpless without hope of channeling their grievance and denial of a voice for the week and voiceless.

We advice our fellow colleague in the institution to stay calm, embrace peace and entrust the struggle on the leadership of NAPS, we solidly assures victory as the new leadership of the association will not condone proscription, dissolution and banning of students Union Government, scapegoatism of students leaders and intermittent closure of our institutions.

We contend that students and their institutions authorities have more in common to prosecute if only they appreciate and only if both of us can lift our mortal siege. Bridging communication gap and harmonizing our charges to solve our identically homogeneous problems is the solution and not suspending, dissolving and prescribing our union.

ALUTA CONTINUA.....VICTORIA ACERTA
Signed
Adeyeye Olugbenga (PILOT)
NAPS National President Elect

Olugbode Damola (D-MODE)
NAPS National PRO Elect

NAPS SETS TO HARMONISE OGITECH CRISIS

BEING THE PRESS TEXT DELIVERED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS NAPS. ON THE OCCASION OF PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSING THE CRISIS ROCKING OGUN STATE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IGBESA HELD AT NUJ HOUSE IWEROYIN ABEOKUTA.

Whether our action is wholesome or unwholesome depends on whether that action or deed arises from a disciplined or undisciplined state of mind. It is felt that a disciplined mind leads to happiness and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering, and in fact it is said that bringing about discipline within one's mind is the essence of the saints teaching.

It's pathetic and very unfortunate that politicians have penetrated into the porosity of student politics, unionism and activism that much, that every genuine struggle of the students are seen as a golden opportunity to strike opponents a shot.

Virtually no angle records joy over disagreement of students and institutions authority degenerating into vandalism, malicious mischief, brutality, viciousness and campus closure.

THE HIJACK OF OGUN STATE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IGBESA STUDENTS STRUGGLE
Its quite unfortunate that rather than finding progressive prescription for the quandary of the unwillingness of the school management to conduct Student Union Election, the students loose guided to unscrupulous elements that birthed unprincipled actions of destroying and vandalising the school property.

The repairable and irreparable damages brought down on the school by protest hijackers remains a capital loss of battle stands and property to the students, we remain the recipient that absorbs more of the consequences of the struggle, as well the highest price payer in the sector.

In spite of our grievances and bitterness constructive agitation should be adopted when issues erupts to abolish the arrogations of our struggles by portraying us as the custodians of exuberance and scapegoat of indiscipline.

THE AUTHORITIES OF OGUN STATE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IGBESA A REAGENT
We tends to lose the moral ground to fault the school management over the ugly incident, still experience shows that fire burns! A goat does not bite except when pushed to the wall. Let us all accept that the angry students reacted in opposition to the action of the school management.

How we wish we have  maintained and still could promise you a crisis-free session. But this will be tantamount to predicting the unpredictable human nature of man. We argue that students and their institution authorities have more in common to prosecute if only they appreciate and if only both of us can lift our "mortal siege".

NAPS POSITION
The leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students condemns without any reservation, the unpatriotic act of conjoining hooliganism and gangsterism with unionism.

Student unionism is different from politics, the combination of both is nothing but indiscipline and injustice. We use this medium to sound a strong waning to all politician who see joy in using students as destructive machinations and prefers scoring political point through students struggles. We have identified and gladly they identify themselves, we promise to confront and pay in their coin whenever such comes into play again.

We advice the indigenes of Igbesa to desist partaking in actions capable of destroying the only state institution situated in yewa region of Ogun state, remember soldiers goes soldiers come barracks remain intact.

He who fight and run live to fight another day, we reach out to our fellow students to give up on battle, give way for negotiations and be willing to embrace peace, victory can alway be ascertain on round table provided we are ready to shift ground for each other.

We appeal the school authority realizes we are students and that reason they are our managers, we plead the room for resolution is open so we can come back to exist as a family. It became imperative we seek the release of all arrested students and implore the authority to forgo any plan to expel, suspend or rusticate any student, we can harmonize our charges to solve our existing communication gaps.

The leadership of NAPS has set up a conflict resolution committee saddle with the responsibility of meeting students stakeholders, management of the school and facilitating a resolutions meeting to harmonize both parties.

Signed
Comr Olugbode Damola .H
NAPS National PRO

NAPS MOURN AND PROTEST THE DEATH OF GAPOSA STUDENT

BEING THE PRESS TEXT DELIVERED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS NAPS. ON THE OCCASION OF PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT NUJ HOUSE IWEROYIN ABEOKUTA.

Protocol's :

"The future would have no pity for those men who, possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak words of the truth to their oppressors, haven taken refuge in an attitude of passivity, of mute indifference and sometimes in cold complicity" (Frantz fanon)

In pensive melancholy, we are moaning and mourning the death of our fallen colleague cut down in the prime of her life by the regicides, primitive and barbaric zombies in human clothing. It is pertinent at this meditational juncture to damn the atrocities perpetrated and may still be perpetrating by the ritualist on innocent defenseless students and citizens of the country.

It's horrible sighting the decomposing remains of our colleague Morenikeji Owolabi reportedly discovered in a shrine at the rustic Eposo village, Ode, in Remo North Local Government Council of Ogun state. Morenikeji, a student of Science Laboratory Technology department at the Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, who was missing for some days was found by policemen on Tuesday, but in her dismembered and decomposing remains littered at a Shrine.

It is most unfortunate that the student community which is suppose to be abode of protection and defence of students life and property has turned out to be dungeon of death and machinations of destruction, dehumanisation and home of ritualist. Nigerian polytechnic students condemn in totality the killing rituals, butchering and cooking of students.

We solemnly declare this day, that although we have neither guns nor musketeer, we will match confrontation with identical confrontation to anywhere anytime a ritual killing or any inhuman act is identified.

GATEWAY POLYTECHNIC RECTOR A TREAT TO THE LIFE OF HIS STUDENT

The truth remain sacrosanct that students of GAPOSA are frustrates into unholy dealing with the anti students policies of the school management, the rector's frivolous extortion of students and regular intimidation of the Student Union Government are key factors.

The silence of the school management on issue that matter this much in disguise of diplomacy is outrightly uncalled for, facilitation of insurance premium, special compensation and condolence visit to the deceased family still pending are attributes of incapability. Barely two months ago two students were also lost to the hand of death due to the inoperational state of the medical centre of the institution.

• Student are to pay medical and other irrelevant fees as huge as Nineteen thousand five hundred Naira, a repetition of bills contain in the school fee and yet first aid boxes are wanting in the medical centre
• Mandatory payment of Jamb regularization fee of Ten thousand Naira flat for all students on campus.
• An institutions of impoverished standard at that charging the highest polytechnic Tuition fee in southwest region of Fifty-six thousand Naira.
• Capital abuse of NBTE carrying capacity, and enforcement of handouts on students.
• Tax clearance as a prerequisite for admission letter or alternative of ten thousand Naira.

Frustrating unbearable policies of the polytechnic are catalysts of shady engagement and capital exposure to risk of life dazzle into by students for their stay on campus to be secured, seek of wealth and protection cover are adoptable option to resists harassment and humiliations from staff and management of the polytechnic.

NAPS POSITION
On the superficial level, power emanates from the barrel of the gun, but on the fundamental level power erupts from the supreme will of the people. It is in the interest of Eposho village and all other communities that condole evil to realize that they are among the wretched of the earth and revolting sect that the Nigerian students are fighting

We value and appreciate the unrelenting efforts of the Nigerian police force to have apprehend suspects connected to this barbaric act, we further appeal other partners in crime and the shrine  herbalist are arrested and brought to book. It also of high necessity we emphasis that the entire Nigeria students are monitoring with keen interest and never will the case established be swept under the Carpet.

We call on the government to beef up the security network in the state to avert future occurrence of this show of shame, barbaric act of ritual killings and man inhuman to man. This callous insensitive barbarous tragedy of low mentality called inhumanity Will never be condone in our society.

The rector of Gateway polytechnic is advise in his own discretion to voluntarily resign from office within now and two weeks time or consider the  school ungovernable as the Secretariat of the association will be shifted down to the school until the government of the state see reason to change the leadership of the institution.
FREEDOM COMETH BY STRUGGLE!!
BY STRUGGLE FREEDOM COME!!!

Signed
Comrade Olugbode DamolaDamola
NAPS National PRO

NAPS Faults N 9bn Proposed NASS allowances

BEING THE PRESS TEXT DELIVERED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS NAPS. ON THE OCCASION OF PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT YABA LAGOS STATE NIGERIA, 19/06/2015.

Protocols:

With the spirit of Aluta, absolute sense of patriotism and commitment to new Nigeria of our dream, the changes project under president Muhammed Buhari (GCFR ) I welcome you all to this conference. The fact remains that the effort of Nigerian students/youth in just concluded 2015 general election can not be underrated both in the electioneering campaign, electoral process by INEC, and complementary effort to ensure relative peace and order before during and after the election result was declared.
The hardous task of nation building has been completely shifted from the people Democratic Party  PDP whose theme of governance was TRANSFORMATION  to all progressive congress APC who promised us CHANGE.  the victory of APC in the march 28th presidential election and successful transition of power on 29th may 2015 confirmed the anticipation and wellness of Nigerians to build a better society a system devoid of impunity, corruption, and injustice. The hope and expectations of Nigerians are high particularly on the fulfillment of election campaign promises by APC/president Buhari government.
It's is highly commendable that the president has yielded to the need to cut down the cost of running government. Proposed review of salary structure of public office holders, The filling of asset declaration form by president and his vice and giant stride in ending BOKO haram insurgency with robust local and international support established with good funding by the new administration.
Nigerian students in the spirit of togetherness embrace the new leadership structure of the 8th Assembly, under the leadership of Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki the president of the senate and Hon. Yakubu Dogara the Honorable Speaker, while congratulating other legislators for successful inauguration.
Our attention has been drawn to the proposed wardrobe allowance of approximate 9million naira each accumulated to 9billion naira for legislators, this is consider bogus and unethical for Nigeria economy considering the fall in global oil price and financial status of Nigeria as nation. As such the proposal is outrightly rejected by entire Nigerian students and youth on behalf of the  180million good people of Nigeria (tax payers) excluding 469  people of National Assembly complex. One wonder if you were not elected or your opponent that lost election to you walks naked on the street of Nigeria before or after the election that made you to deserve such wardrobe allowance.
In the interest of peace, tranquility and deliverance of good governance as promise by change goverment , considering the economic reality of our dear nation we demands thus:
1. Review of this allowance to minima bearable point if not total cancellation. 70% reduction of wardrobe and all other allowances

2. Diversion of this said proposed fund to revive kaduna and Kano textile factory as a sacrifice from the legislators to rebuild nigeria to ascertain production of more quality textile materials in nigeria and employment for teeming youth so as to avert  future robbery of legislator wardrobe by unemployed youth when frustrated.

3. Unreserve apology to the entire Nigerians for taking our well being for granted as displayed by the miss felling reaction express by legislators to salary review and Proposal  of 9billion wardrobe allowance when some Nigerians in more than 15states of the federation could not afford daily bread as a result of bankruptcy of some state treasury which result to inability to pay workers salaries for close to 9months.

We are optimistic that our demands will be attended to as a matter of urgency, in the spirit of patriotism but hopefully if no action is taken to redress this matter, in the next 3weeks numbers of Nigerian student shall storm the National Assembly complex to demand justice openly and establish inconsiderate attributes of our legislators to the entire world. the era of corruption must end in our country, impunity and injustice must stop. As much as the poor pays tax we must judiciously manage and monitor our resource.

Aluta continua, Victoria ascerta, no retreat no surrender, as long as we live, struggle continues.............
Comr. Salahudeen A. Lukman
NAPS National president of the Senate.

Naps pay federal polytechnic oko a working visit

Executive members of the National Association of Polytechnic students (NAPS) have visited the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State to assess the institution following some  allegations levelled against its leadership.

The visitors, led by NAPS President Salaudeen Lukman of Kaduna Polytechnic, praised Oko Poly administrators for the manner they have led the institution.

There were charges of reckless suspension of lecturers and undue rustication of students among other allegatiuons.

The NAPS chief said it would have been suicidal if the union had acted based on information it received from various quarters against the school management.

He said that allegations of suspending lecturers with ignominy, rustication of students with reckless abandon and other anomalies, were heaped on the Rector of the school, Prof Godwin Onu.

Salaudeen, who said NAPS boasts of 21 million students in the country, said their visit had changed their perception of the happenings in Anambra and the institution.

He said during the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) their students were blackmailed, harassed, intimidated in the country especially in Lagos State, during their protest and in other states, but they moved on.

NAPS therefore commended Oko Polytechnic Rector Prof Onu for bringing innovations in the school system and introducing Computer Based Test (CBT) in the institution.

He said the introduction of CBT gave raise for petitions by some lecturers in the institution, who did not like the idea, adding that any lecturer that does not like it should resign henceforth.

Salaudeen, said that the incoming administration of president elect, Mohammadu Buhari, has zero tolerance for corruption, adding that those who had been swimming in corruption would not go unpunished.

After seeing some of the development strides in the school, NAPS president described the Rector as an agent of change, adding that the Association had selected him as the best polytechnic Rector in the country.

Furthermore, he said that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association would meet any time from now to pick a date for the award ceremony on the Oko Rector.

He said, “We are highly disappointed in some of the lecturers who had been complaining against the Rector, other Rectors in the country should emulate Prof Onu, we are indeed weakened by his achievements in this place”

“Do not have any form of U-turn in your policies, members of NAPS will serve as your enforcement agents in this country, and from the rate things are going, we believe that federal polytechnic will be the first in this cadre to be made a university in this country”

“We are not going to accommodate any further blackmail from the academic staff of this institution, enough is enough, and NAPS will take it personal, we want to rescue our education sector” Salaudeen threatened.

The chairman of the institution’s governing council; Dr. Azubuike Odukwe, told The Nation that the coming of the (NAPS) students will now give the institution a moment of respite.

He praised the students for coming to the school, at least to verify some of the allegations leveled against the Rector, who according to him, had brought light to the school.

According to him, “some people want to pull this institution down because of selfish interest, I want to advice the students that any where they see themselves in future, they should be on the positive side and not negative, no matter what ever pressure”.

“You should not allow anybody to mislead you in any thing you do, if you build the body, it helps the brain, this institution was built in a very lousy foundation and that is why we are rebuilding it now”.

For the Deputy Rector, Academics, Dr. Mrs. Gladys Anene, people should know that only God makes kings.

She told The Nation that God would reward members of NAPS who came to verify the situation of things without relying on rumour to make mistakes from a distance.

Speaking with The Nation after the student’s visit, the Rector, Prof Onu, commended members of the institution’s board for being progress oriented and the understanding group.

He said that all the petitions against him and flagrant setting up of panels for one investigation or the other in the school amount to distraction without the petitioners knowing it.

According to him, “I have seen red in this institution but God has been alive, whether they like it or not, this institution must change for real, if God is with you, anybody fighting you will hit the rocks”.

“The level of extortion by lecturers was so alarming in this school and some of the lecturers failed to realize that some of these students are finding themselves, these are the kind of anomalies we are fighting against here and not suspension of lecturers”.

“They are extorting poor students and if you query that, they run to their association that you are fighting them, they label you enemy of progress and blackmail you, but we can’t continue like that,” Onu said.

‪#‎OPERATION‬ END HND DICOTHOMY#

Dear Comrade, 

I am please to inform you at the same time invite you to join the Nigerian Polytechnic students' Justice Rally schedule to hold in Abuja on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th May,2015, this rally is aimed to clamour for the need as well further establish the reason why HND DICOTHOMY must come to an END in Nigeria, it is obvious that many action has been triggered by the outgoing Govt to End this Stupidity call policy in Nigeria such as Presidential Committee, Ministerial Committee with reports but no action, National Assembly Bill which as passed 2nd reading. but referred for Public hearing which never see the light of the day again but the lack of implementation and commitment till date made them meaningless as such, all force is required to remind the FG both the Outgoing and the Incoming to do justice to this issue. If Transformation Team can execute and implement this in Nigeria Education system, it will add more credit to President Goodluck Jonathan, just as he got more credit in many of his post election actions the likes of IGP sack, Chibok Girls rescue, NNPC Audit Report publication and many other reform he had embarked Upon in the recent time just after March 28th Presidential Election. I Hereby implore all student union Government in Polytechnics, Polytechnic Graduates (HND CERT. HOLDERS) and all concern students to see this sole struggle as important as Academic and post Academic project Respectively to confirm and add value to our Certificate worth after school and in labour Market, we solicit for solidarity support from our colleagues in other Higher institutions of learning in Nigeria to join us as injury to one remain injury to all, injustice in Sokoto is a treat to justice in Calabar, we appeal to all our rectors and Dean student Affairs to grant the Union every support required to make the trip a successful one. You are expected to arrive Abuja on Wednesday 6th May 2015. While Convergence point in Abuja on Thursday remain Unity Square opp. Millennium Park by 9am. Thanks and God bless.‪#‎CollectiveHandRescueMission‬# Together we can Achieve This
Signed Comr. Salahudeen A Lukman NAPS Senate President. 
Comr. Ogbonaya Sunday 
NAPS President. 
For enquiry contact# 08068360731, 07088205887, 08063689634, 08032812062

Governor Ayodele Fayoshe about to set a record in the Nigeria politics

By now every patriotic citizen of Nigeria should comprehend the major reason the Ekiti State governor could do anything humanly possible to earn his benefactor a second term in office (third term administring of oath) without hesitation.

The greatest shock Nigerians ever had about his excellency was the courage and boldness he had to have wished General Muhammed Buhari death on a national newspaper and still was the very first person to congratulate the same General even before the official announcement of his victory at the presidential poll.

There is no further doubt that his desperation to remain in power at all cost is the intoxicant engineering his show of shame, still bearing in mind that the controversial Gov is yet to clarify himself from the popular alleged audio record of the Ekiti rigged election in connection to the Military and some other PDP Chieftain.

I wouldn't wanna believe his excellency Ayo Fayoshe is at the verge of dumping his benefactor after the good time is gone, contributing immensely to his down fall and successfully saw him out of office to fight for himself alone and alone by saying " I have begged them (APC) let them come and we can work together" referring to the same law makers he victimized while he was still enjoying the federal backing. I can't help myself stop laughing.

Guinness book of record should be ready to accommodates more set of records this year, just like the PDP president Jonathan set a record of being the very first sitting Nigeria president to lose to an opposition party, not just any opposition but a party who filed a three times ridiculed candidate to emerge on their first attempt for the post. So will GOV Ayo of Ekiti be the first governor to be impeached twice if the impeachment script finally become a movie.

No one to run to this time around as the calamity that befell the pdp is still very fresh leaving most of them in a dilemma they are yet to recover from, though Femi Fani Kayode could render some help in making things easier with his running mouth. Its dawn the cock has crow.

The good people of Ekiti by now should submit totally to the replacement of that rouge who ordinarily is not fit to be on that sit for a better fountain of knowledge and dismiss his hypocritical appeal to them. The state needs to regain her lost dignity and be that respected again like she used to be and not the mess the once impeched governor has brought her.

Comrade Olugbode H. Damola
ALUTA D-MODE

NAPS CONGRATULATES GENERAL MUHAMMED BUHARI

The ultimate measure of a man is not his position in time of comfort and convenience but his stand in time of crisis and controversy.

The leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) congratulates the president elect of nigeria, General Muhammed Buhari on his victorious fight against the outgoing president and the peoples democratic party. We also commend the doggedness, consistency and courage of our new president that resulted in his well deserved victory, self believe, clean history and determination are catalyst of the success.

The historical and memorable just concluded election has reflected General Muhammed Buhari as a hero whose name should be registered in the historical book of record just like Abraham Lincoln of America, Nelson Mandela of South - Africa and the likes. A hero who never gave up to failure but rather believe that there is a seed of success in every failure, Nigerians I believe we will never forgets such a man.

We commensurate and rejoice with the All Progressive Congress on their set and beaten of record, they have successfully clinched an unprecedented victory that seems like living without breathing for sixteen years. A record indeed, the very first opposition that enjoyed the block votes of the masses to defeat a sitting president on their very first appearance for the presidential race.

Necessarily we say kudos to a living legend in the political circle, the chief master brain behind the huge success, permit me to call him the dictionary of nigerian politics, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Likewise Gov Rotinmi Amechi, Sen Bukola Saraki and all other icons of the party.

The leadership of the association also say a big thank you to our historical president Dr GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN for his unrelenting transformation agenda, tireless contribution to the growth of the nation and most especially his preservation of our democracy. We wish him the very best of life as he proceed to life after power, we regard him to be a good man with a good vision but associated with the wrong calibre of people, still we say good luck sir.

We as well draw the attention of our new president to all promises he made while vying for the post, security challenges, electricity problems, HND/BSC dichotomy, discrimination of graduates, extraction of Nigeria polytechnic commission, ASUU, ASUP and COEASU agreements and all other issues affecting the nation, as we wish you a successful tenure in office.

Comrade Olugbode H. Damola
   NAPS PRO      

A GUID TO THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW by comrade Olugbode H. Damola

The world demands the qualities of youths: not a time of life but a state of mind, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease.

We youths shouldn't participate in politics as leaders in making, but rather do as a sector whose opinion should not only count but be respected. We must be free to act on our initiatives and lead our elders in the direction of the unknown. It's time we rise up against the mental fraud of being call leaders of tomorrow, trick of giving hope not forth coming, tactically denying us from taking part in decision making, leaving us with dreams and illusion of our time is yet to come. Our dreams will not ordinarily come to play without contributing adequately to its realization, here comes the need for we all to wake up from slumber, take charge of all responsibilities and be rest assured that all catalyst are set to work in other to arrive at an appropriate time.

So many political trumpets are blown to our hearings, so many promises have been made, the wind of transformation and the breeze of change, many interest before the youths, portraying high hope of our involvement in making and implementing their policies. And yet we are still hoping to see a youth filed for a post even the least of all, we need to go through stress of exhausting a our 3Cs before a special advisers on youths and students matters would be giving to us. Endless effort in politicizing youths and students movement, bringing division and faction is constantly expected of them, still we trust them with our future.The table turns every four years, this another brilliant opportunity for we all to correct the errors we have been sorry about, mistakes we wish to erase, etc. It's essential we give a careful look into the proposed manifestos, the personal and political ideology (candidate and party), the environment that influences the making and taking of decision, and most especially the angle that gives hope to the youths of the nation. As any blunder that occur now will cost us 1460days to be revive, which is the more reason we need to be extra conscious in making a choice.

It's a sin of he who neglect his responsibilities out of fear and cowardice, and of what reason should we isolate ourselves from history making and the memorable transition that is about to happen? Rather should we advocate and sensitize others on the need to contribute to nation building, bagging into our hearts that we are also responsible for actions and decisions we did not take, a bad leader only emerges out of the failure of the good one's to participate in politics.

Casting votes out of merit should be adopted! Discourage the ignorant selling of votes for chicken feeds and refuse being partisan to political parties, the future of the nation we believe should be paramount to all citizens. Dissociating intellectually from the politically motivated endorsement of a candidate or party on our behalf, by students and youth leaders is essential, doing so by honestly sowing our votes base on merits and credibility, no one sow a seed of mango to harvest oranges.

Fighting, Violence and electoral malpractice should be shun outrightly voting should be done in peace, canvassing and supporting should be mature, all grievances, annoyance and petition should be withheld and channeled to appropriate quarters after election appropriately according to law. The labour of our hero's past shall not be in vain, as we serve the nation with all our might, you and I bound the nation in freedom by giving peace and justice, voting with the love of our country, saying no to violence and electoral malpractice, so help us God.
(Amen)

The pen of Aluta D-mode

NAPS Demands Immediate Review of Immigration Service Recruitment Eligibility to Accommodate HND CERTIFICATE or Comr. Abba Moro the Hon. Minister of Interior Resigns.

The insensitivity of the federal ministry of interior under the watch of Comr. Abba Moro has gotten to the peak, his leadership has failed woefully in all ramifications, every Nigerians became worried and disturbed with the level of corruption and manipulation in the ministry since he assumed the position aside the fact that he had not conducted any successful recruitment exercise since his appointment as minister, the fraudulent collection of #1,000 from all graduates who applied for the last immigration recruitment exercise, the decline of the refund of the money to all applicants order by federal government by this same minister, the deliberate killing of innocent Nigerian unemployed youth due to lack of administrative and transparency attributes to organise successful screening exercise for immigration recruitment applicants, although the federal government paid a compensation with automatic job employment for the relatives of the decease but nothing could amounts to the worth of the lives of the young promising Nigerians who were prematurely killed by the ignorant of a single person in governance, one keep wondering why Comr Abba Moro still remains the minister of interior till date.
The cancellation of the earlier process of the immigration recruitment which claimed lives of many graduates and left many with injuries by the federal government through the ministry if interior was accepted with optimistic and holistic heart hoping that the honourable minister and the ministry must have learn their lessons and come up with better, less politicised and less corrupt arrangement to secure a good face for Nigerian immigration service, but the reverse is now the case.
It became worrisome to the see advert of the new recruitment exercise by the presidential committee on immigration recruitment exercise strictly for DEGREE holders only as if HND CERTIFICATE is no longer recognised by the federal civil service, or is not awarded by federal government approved Polytechnics in Nigeria, this sole action masterminded the need for intellectual inquisition which confirm and justify the corrupt practice of the interior ministry from every sense of reasoning the fact that many of the slots has been sold out by the ministry of interior, so in other to justified the bribe collected from many graduates in the last aborted exercise, the trick of dropping HND holders was adopted so the vacancy can be enough filled up the candidates they have collected cash from. We have presented many facts to justify the need to review this injustice, considering the fact from the Nigeria scheme of service and officer gerset . The pains and the blood of the holders of HND certificate who were victims of the stamped during the last aborted exercise will never forgive our silence on this injustice as such we demand the immediate inclusion of HND CERTIFICATE OR THE HON. MINISTER OF INTERIOR COMR. ABBA MORO SHOULD RESIGN WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
We have exhausted the first 2C of principle of constructive activism, consultation and consolidation, we are on the verge of implementing the last C which is the confrontation. We have nothing to regret of by the time we seal up the federal ministry of interior by Thursday 19th March, 2015 but we want to respect the intervention of department of state service (DSS) to extend the ultimatum for another 48hours which by dint of daring or undermine the strength of Nigerian polytechnic students under the Aegis of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS NAPS. The honourable minister is advice to submit his resignation letter by Monday 23rd March, 2015. We shall take over the ministry of interior with heavy mass protest from Monday 23rd March, 2015 we have communicated the ministry and the committee via several correspondence which the never honoured . I wish to further implore the entire Nigerian polytechnic students and the polytechnic graduates mostly those who are interested in the immigration service to troop out as we seal up interior ministry by Monday 23rd March, 2015. An injury to one is an injury to all. Injustice in Calabar is treat to justice in kaduna. Let all rise to stop the carrier killing agents. Aluta continua Victoria ascerta.

BEING THE COMMUNIQUE OF THE NAPS DISRUPTED AKURE CONVENTION.

Preamble: National Association of Polytechnic Students NAPS, an umbrella body of all Polytechnics, Monotechnics, colleges of Education, colleges of Technology and other Allied Institutions awarding ND/HND certificate across the six geo-political zone of the federation, with all member institutions' Students' union Government president as senator forming the Senate Assembly.

The convergence of all senators in Ondo state for the purpose of electing new leadership of the Association after the annulment of the election held at federal polytechnic Offa kwara state national congress held on the 13th Dec 2014, which suffer setback as result of some manipulation act exhibited by some character.
Sequel to the inability of the convention planing committee CPC constituted by the leadership of the senate and the executive council led by Comr. Fawale Oluwole Jacob as chairman to give a befitting arrangement for transition process, which resulted to :
The rejection of the host by Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Ondo state that later resulted to student convergence In an Hotel Swan Hotel Akure which is against the norms and tradition of the student movement
Lack of necessary paper works to officially gain the support of the Ondo state Government to cater for accommodation and other logistics required for the smooth process.
The un-ethical delay of the process from Thursday 5th till Sunday 8th March with no any meaningful progress which resulted to the frustration of senators and the entire student congress in attendance.
The act of impersonating the entire Northern state institutions with students of Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo state and some tout by the CPC chairman Comr. Fawale Oluwole Jacob which finally disrupted the convention process. 
The aftermath of the above actions.
The senate resolved thus:
1. The senate condemn in totality the lack of capacity and inability of the entire CPC to give credible election as such pass vote of no confidence on the chairman comr. Fawale oluwole Jacob. Owning to this fact the entire committee stands dissolved.
2. The senate specially thanks the management of Swan Hotel Akure for her endurance and tolerance all through our stay and use of their facilities.
3. The senate sincerely appreciate the tireless effort of Nigerian police force, Department of state Service and other security Agencies for their support.
4. The senate resolved to re-convene the NAPS Convention after General election while imploring the entire senator not to get tired because it is not over until is over, freedom cometh by struggle.
5. The leadership of the Senate and the Executive council shall employ some other credible hands to ensure a smooth transition process immediately after the General election.
6. The senate recommend in strong term the capital adherence to the NAPS constitution provision for the transition process to avert further controversy in our dear Association thus: Accreditation should be handle by ASG or Senate Clerk, School I'D card and SUG I'D card should be the only valid document for senator eligibility.
7. By the virtue of NAPS constitution Article 9 code B Section I
B.THE CONVEYING AUTHORITY
i.The NAPS senate shall, at their last meeting fix the date and venue of the next annual convention. No other organ of NAPS shall appropriate to itself the duty of convening the convention other than NAPS senate. As such we announce the next arrangement soonest.
Aluta Continua Victoria Ascerta. Sighed
Comr. Abdulramah Mohammed ( Sug President Kwarapoly)
Comr. Kolade Oluwafemi (SUG president Fcc oyo)
Comr. Mohammed Mukthar (SUG president FCE okene)
Comr. Nwolu Uguchukwu (SUG president Fedpoly Nekede)
Comr. Twoyo (Sug President Edo state institute of Tech Useni)
Comr. Salahudeen A Lukman (NAPS Senate President)
CC: IGP Nigerian police force, (NPF)
DG Department of state Service (DSS)
SSA on Youth and Student Matters to President
Hon. Minister Fed Min of Education Abuja
ES Nat. Board for Tech Education (NBTE)
Chairman COHEAD
ASUP
COEASU
All Dean Student Affairs
All SUG President

NAPS CONVENTION DISTRUPTED BY RENTED TOUT

NAPS CONVENTION DISRUPTED BY RENTED TOUT ARRANGED BY CPC CHAIRMAN FAWALE OLUWOLE JACOB TO TORONTO ZONE A DELEGATE ON THE INSTRUCTION OF NANS PRESIDENT. COMR. TIJANI USMAN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF NANS PRO COMR. EZEKIEL NWAKWO (Atiku). It was true that NAPS Convention in SWAM Hotel Akure was inconclusive due to the Adamancy of some reputable student leader rejecting the use of some Federal University of Akure and some Tout to represent polytechnics in Zone A structure of NANS (North west) by the CPC chairman Comr Fawale Oluwole Jacob, it was discovered true simple arithmetic of Numbers of vehicle (Bus) from Zone A in Attendance confirmed to be only one (federal polytechnic Bida SUG BUS) confirm eighteen seater bus tend to produce 56 Senators on the list proposed to be push in by CPC chairman to represent Zone A, every one became disturb how such number of student delegate should be convey by only a bus, this prompt interaction with some of the hired tout. And some claim to be boys mobilised from Akure town and some claim to be student of FUTA, It was on this note the CPC secretary Comr. Liberty Nwagu refused the illegality. The abortion of the manipulation act tend the CPC chairman and other Agent of manipulation who claims to be working on the instruction of NANS President to deliver his Pilot as NAPS president disrupt the convention process. The incumbent leadership of NAPS both Senate and the executive council shall announce new arrangement for the reconvening the convention with new Convention Planing Committee in due course. I sincerely appreciate all senators, stakeholders and the General student congress who stood by the justice and progress of our dear Association, most especially those who work to avert the buy over of NAPS Leadership with 100, 000 offer by the Agent of NANS President. We shall remain focus until the total Rebrand is achieved, I apologise for inhuman treatment (frustration, provocation and sufferness) subjected by the CPC led by Comr. Olujacob on all delegate for good 5days while assuring the entire Nigerian polytechnics and colleges students that we shall ensure credible student leaders are appointed for the next arrangement likewise the future engagement, I wish to advice the entire student community to learn from NAPS recent predicament to avert repetition of such by ensuring credible people are entrusted with responsibility of organising event of this nature. Comr. Lukman Salahudeen (Aluta Inspector) NAPS senate President Aspirant for NAPS PRESIDENCY

WHY NANS PRESIDENT COMR. TIJANI USMAN PREFERED HIS REGULAR DRIVER (PILOT) AS NAPS PRESIDENT

it is visible even to the blind likewise Audible to the deaf now in the entire Nigerian students Community, that the office of the incumbent NANS president has less interest in Promoting Nigerian students but high priority in making more dealings, negotiations and profit oriented events all in the name of Nigerian students, haven discovered the credibility, competency and focus for the total emancipation of Nigerian students in myself just as displayed all through my Senate Presidency which could later result to his total lost of grip of students' confidence and possible lost of many business contract such as sponsored protest, hired media blackmail, negotiation of student interest for cash and lots.... the credibility of NAPS to become alternative voice of the entire nigerian students even to include university students using Nat Ass. of University Students (NAUS) Prompted The imposition of NANS presidential Regular Driver (Pilot) as NAPS president so the president of NANs can be rest assured that even if he decides to sell the entire Nigerian students interest no any structure can challenge his action no matter what since the alternative structure is already pocket and lock down inside his car. Every one became apprehensive of why sudden hatred of Aluta Inspector by NANS President despite we all supported his candidature then in Asaba Convention on instruction of some of our respected leaders, the likes of Uncle, Dan J and co. It will do no any good to the student community in the country if we should allow the buy over of NAPS by Comr. Tijani Usman whom we all elected to represent us now using his office to intimidate some of us, I have suffer more than enough in his hand in this recent time using Comr. Ezekie Nwakwo (atiku) NANS PRO and Fawale Olujacob (former Factional NAPS President ) to execute my harassment and total destruction of my mission to REBRAND NAPS, We must reject this act in totality while I plead and solicit on solidarity calling on all relevant stakeholders in student movement to caution Mr. NANS President before its become Too late. All polytechnic students union presidents (Senator) request ur intervention before we do other wise.....Comr. Salahudeen A Lukman (Aluta inspector) NAPS Senate President (Aspirant for NAPS Presidency)

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

 Let the world hear my cry.....Comr. Tijani Usman The NANS president Set to Buy NAPS at #100,000 for his driver: it is so sad that up to this time, the CPC chairman of Naps convention 2015 has failed, the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic as rejected the hosting of the convention, the state government of Ondo state has refuse to also offer any support, student delegate and senators resulted to contribute money among themselves to get hotel accommodation, the CPC has also decide to hold the convention inside hotel room SWAN Hotel Akure opposite Governors centre Imagine, The CPC chairman Comr Fawale Oluwole Jacob as accepted offer of Just #100,000 from NANS president to ensure NANS President Personal Driver Adeyeye pilot is delivered as NAPS President, Comr Nwako Ezekiel Atiku NANS PRO is already in Akure to ensure all process is manipulated for NANS President Driver, All legitimate SUG president on ground has reject the bid which as make the election not to hold till now, student as been frustrated, high pressure on Comr. Liberty Nwagu to soccum to the evil plan which he has refused furiously that is delaying the convention, Nig polytechnic student say no to imposition of NANS president Personal Driver as NAPS President.
 A cry out by comrade Salahudeen A Luqman on the 8th of march 2015 around 3am.

ABUAD FEE HIKE: EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE A "DEBT" SENTENCE

The authorities of the Afe Babalola University has carried out an outrageous hike in the fees of its Clinical students (400 level medical students) from the already whopping sum of N1.7 million to a stupefying sum of N2.6 million. Nothing on earth, except plain profit-making, can justify this exploitative hike.

By this fee hike, what the ABUAD authorities appear to be saying is that the University is open to only the children of treasury looters, corrupt politicians and oil bunkerers! The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) hereby calls for the immediate reversal of the hiked fee. Even the old rate of N1.7 million is extortionate and exorbitant. We insist that education must not and should not be a “debt” sentence.

We urge Nigerian people to publicly condemn this fee hike and prevail on the authorities of the institution to rescind its decision. Without the immediate reversal of the fees, many medical students already in their 400 level risk being thrown out of the University. This matter is therefore a matter of urgent national importance.

Contrary to the opinion of some that private institutions are meant to be funded from fees paid by students and therefore no one has the right to protest any astronomical tuition, the ERC believes that in so far as private Universities are service providers, the public including students and their parents have a right to protest any of their policies considered inimical to their future. Not only does the public has the right to determine the amount of tuition private schools can charge, the public also has the right to determine the quality of their services etc. This is because whether private or public, education is an inalienable universal human right.

This is more so because the idea that only the rich send their children to private Universities is no more true. As a result of the complete decay of public education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, many working class and middle class parents are increasingly compelled to enroll their wards in private schools which they can only afford by taking loans etc. This is because everyone wants the best education for their children which is no more possible to obtain at an affordable rate as a result of the destruction of the public education system. In addition to this is the inability of existing public tertiary institutions to admit all eligible applicants. Therefore whether they have the means or not, many parents are compelled to enroll their wards in private institutions. Increasing fees at such outrageous rate as ABUAD has done is therefore an unacceptable pressure on parents and if unchallenged, this fee hike can force many of the Clinical students to drop out of school.

Out of the N2.6 million, the tuition portion is just N950, 000. However what makes up the rest is simply stupefying. For instance, Clinical students are being asked to pay N350, 000 for clinical posting and another N200, 000 for community medicine posting. For examination and assessment, the students are to pay N125, 000. What manner of examinations cost this much? Despite N950, 000 already allotted for tuition, students are to pay another N150, 000 for practical/laboratory. So what exactly constitute tuition in the first place? Accommodation is N350, 000. Library fees which used to be N10, 000 was jerked up to N20, 000 while ICT was pegged at N30, 000. Course registration, a simple administrative exercise, attracts a cost of N10, 000! Also students are to pay N50, 000 as deposit against damages.

This outrageous hike however confirms our consistent opposition to the privatization of public education on the basis of IMF and World Bank dictate. We have often maintained the position that the privatization of education would not solve the problem of access but only deny an increasing percentage of the population access to knowledge. According to the Punch newspaper of Tuesday February 24 2015, statistics from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board shows that only two per cent (or 18, 667) of the 1.6 million candidates applied to study in the nation’s private universities in the 2014 academic session. There are 50 private universities in the country. This shows that over 98 per cent of candidates preferred the 79 federal and state-owned universities to the private ones.

The fee hike in ABUAD is a confirmation that all private institutions offer is mega exploitation of the frustration being felt by Nigerians over the decay of public education infrastructure. In the case of ABUAD, many of the students who have been finding it difficult to afford the old fee of N1.7 million are now confronted with the reality of dropping out of school entirely given the new fee of N2.6 million. The ERC insists that the only socially-beneficial way to make education affordable and accessible to all is for the government to invest massively in public education by utilizing the enormous wealth of the country.

Whether public of private education, the ERC stand opposed to exploitation. We join ABUAD students to condemn the fee hike. Unfortunately from the inception of the university, the ABUAD administration has illegally prevented student unionism in direct violation of the constitutional rights of students. We condemn this and demand that the authorities of ABUAD allow students to establish an independent and democratic students union through which they can protect their rights and interests at all times. However what this means is that at this critical time, ABUAD students have no union through which they can mount a stout resistance to the fee hike. Regardless of this however, we urge the students to take their destinies into their hands by organizing and mobilizing in peaceful protests and demonstrations until their demands are met. If they are prepared to do this, we are confident that workers, parents and ordinary Nigerians will stand by them.






                                                                                        
Hassan Taiwo Soweto                                    Michael Ogundele                        
National Coordinator                                    National Secretary                      
07033697259

ASUP STRIKE UPDATE

 In our quest to defend OurCampusGate from Lock and key, the leadership of NAPS has commence consultation moves to avert this ugly scenario call Strike, the federal Government has re affirm her commitment to do all it takes to convince our dear lecturers and ensure all issue is address before the strike commence proper on Wednesday 25th Feb.2015, a source from FG confirmed that our lecturer Shall be engage in a negotiation meeting by the Federal Government office of The Hon Minister of Education Mallam Ibrahim Shekarou on that same Wednesday 25th Feb 2015 in the federal Ministry of education Abuja, we hereby appeal to our teaming students to remain calm and prayerful for the success of this dialogue and negotiation meeting come in our favour we implore both parties (FG/ASUP) to be sincerely and objective in their dealing with our future and carrier as many of our polytechnic Are yet to recover the damaged academic calenders, while many are starting examination this month ending and first weeks of March as the case may be. We are optimistic that the FG will do all needful to ensure our campus gate is defended from closing. While we Express confidence on our dear lecturers to be fair and considerate in their action at this critical moment in the nation, The leadership of NAPS pledge not to relent in ensuring adequate representation of the sector and the student interest. Effort is also ongoing to draw the attention of FG to correct and include HND certificate to the ongoing Emigration recruitment. We suspend our earlier plan to lay ambush around the Federal ministry of education on Wednesday with placards, chain and padlock should in case the meeting want to ends deadlock as usual due to assurance from top Govt offcr Operation Defend ur Gate achievable. Aluta continual Victoria ascerta....

TEST OF LEADERSHIP by Comrade Olugbode Damola

The future of every country lies on the shoulder of the youths, they are the hope of all nations. Handling the leadership Barton over to them is sacrosanct thus there is need for a test of leadership. 

This awakening call was catalyst by the pace at which our testing leaders are derailing from their heroes core ideology to suit the corrupt style of the nation, serving as a dog set after the opposition of a pay master and turning deaf ears to the basic ideology that lead to the formation of the platform that warrant them to be a leader.

Testing leaders could be trace back to class captains, trusted with representative functions and mostly to maintain decorum in class. Leaders on campus and across campuses are major and clearer picture of leadership put to test. 

Fortune teller is not needed to tell how the future will look like, as we have it reflecting all around, the likes of Adams Oshomole, Jude Imagwe, Labaran Maku amidst others serving as leaders of today is a justification of leadership put to test.

Being in slumber, i fear will soon become an understatement, looking at the future picture we are drawing, our testing leaders had allowed corruption to eat deep into their marrow, and despite their acknowledgment of it to be bad, they still enjoy the practice.

The choice is ours and the ball is in our court, we are to decide if the current growing seed should have its way out of nursery or end there, it's also ours to decide the legacy to be pass unto the next set of testing leaders, like wise the living and dying of our heroes memory is subjected to our decision. 

Dear readers, what are your impact in building a better future? have you ever thought of commending or condemning a testing leader when necessary? did you ever deem it fit to contest a leadership post? what are your contributions to your constituency? It is never too late to contribute your quota, building a desired future is our collective responsibility.

ASUP Embarks On Indefinite Strike Again

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP)The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have directed its members nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike from Wednesday, to demand the implementation of a four year old agreement with the Federal Government.The union, until July 2014, had embarked on a nine-month strike and had suspended it following apromise from the Minister of Education, IbrahimShekarau, who was newly appointed then, that he would resolve the matter within three months.The President of ASUP, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha, speaking with newsmen at the end of an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC), also called for the dissolution of governing council of Federal Polytechnic Oko, in Anambra State and that of Ado Ekiti in EkitiState for causing avoidable problems in their institutions.Asomugha recalled that the union had issued a two week ultimatum starting February 11, 2015.He called for the withdrawal of a circular issued by the Ministry of Education suspending the implementation of CONTISS 15.Other grievances of the union include the continueddiscrimination against Polytechnic graduates in Public Service and in the labour market in Nigeria, the non release of the White Paper on the Visitation to Federal Polytechnics, the non implementation of CONTISS 15 Migration for the Lower cadres and its arrears as from 2009 when the salary structure was approved and the non establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission (NPC) and the wrongful continued recognition of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as the regulatory body for Polytechnics.Others are the non-constitution of Governing Councils for some Federal Polytechnics by the Federal Government, the snail-pace of the reviewof the Federal Polytechnics Act by the National Assembly and the gross under funding of the Polytechnic sub sector and continued lopsidedness in the disbursements of TETfund grants and other interventions clearly designed to thedisadvantage of the polytechnic sector.

Austerity: An Open Call for the Building of a Movement to Resist Imminent Attacks on Public Education

atement of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) to Students Unions, NANS, NAPS, Left Organisations, Radical Groups and Activists in the Students' Movement
Nigeria has entered into a period of economic crisis arising out of the plunge in crude oil price. Crude oil sale accounts for about 95% of export earnings and 80% of government revenue.

Whoever wins the February 14, 2015 presidential elections, whether Goodluck Jonathan or Muhammadu Buhari, would be compelled by the global oil price crisis to implement austerity measures that will create immense hardship. This is because in spite of alleged differences between the two, both Buhari and Jonathan are apostles of the unjust capitalist system whose inherent contradictions is responsible for the current global oil price fall and the periodic and alternating cycle of boom and bursts which has destroyed economies and blighted living standards of the working class and youth not just in Africa but across the world.
                                                
The Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Okonjo Iweala has described the crisis as a "permanent shock" (The Nation Newspaper 21 Nov. 2014). A euphemism for a disaster we have no hope of getting out from any time soon. Right now oil price hovers below $50 per barrel - down from $115 in June 2014. Likewise, despite efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to defend the currency, the Naira continues to depreciate rapidly. Some days ago, Naira exchanged at N208 to a dollar on the parallel market.

Now strident alarms are being sounded that what remains of foreign reserve can only cover a few months of import. This is a bad news for an import-dependent economy like Nigeria. Growth forecast for the year 2015 has now been reviewed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to 5% down from 7%. The 2015 budget was dead on arrival at the National Assembly last December. While it proposes $65 as oil benchmark (which had to be reviewed twice), it would call for a national celebration if crude oil price increases to $60 in the next few months. But even as unworkable as it already is, the 2015 budget proposal already foreshadows the fundamental attacks on public education and social services to be expected. Already a substantial cut has been effected in the proposed capital expenditure of the 2015 budget from N1.3 trillion to N627 billion. These means that despite current large deficit in public infrastructure, investment to improve facilities in schools, hospitals, roads, housing, electricity and water provision etc will be substantially reduced this year.

Mass consciousness has currently failed to grasp the enormity of the crises. This is because of the on-going election campaigns which while raising the hope of "change" has helped to blind large sections of the working class and poor. This is more so because there is no anti-capitalist party or an alternative mass workers political party contesting in the elections. But this state of consciousness would be temporary especially because the assault on our very existence will begin immediately after the elections no matter who wins. Already fundamental attacks have being announced to take off after elections. One is the hike in electricity tariff billed for July 2015. More is to be expected.

Austerity measures and the accompanying resistance will most certainly create a condition for the class struggle to grow and the possibility of the labour movement calling for general strikes and nationwide rallies and mass protests once again. However what will permanently defeat the attacks and ensure that we are saved from constant economic crises that destroy working peoples livelihoods is the replacement of the irrational capitalist system with a democratic socialist system that can permit the use of Nigeria's enormous oil wealth for real development in society and a higher living standard for the mass majority.

Most certainly, with the economic crisis will come a flurry of harsh austerity measures to save the free market economy from collapse. Public education, healthcare, the minimum wage, the civil service and our already miserable living standards will be subjected to the most brutal cuts. Retrenchment in the public and private sector will come while the army of unemployed will swell. Unemployment currently stands at 24% and poverty at 71%. The quality and standards in public primary and secondary schools will further plummet. Already working class parents who have their children and wards in private schools have to pay thousands and in certain cases hundreds of thousands of naira for tuition and other charges. Starting from the mid-90s, many middle class and working class parent were compelled to accept private schools at least at primary and secondary levels as the only available alternative to the wholesale destruction of public schools by government policy of underfunding. This is in spite of the expensive fees charged. However imagine the horror when private schools now further increase fees in the condition of downward decline in the value of wages that the economic crisis will create! This could mean private schools may become theatres of struggle in the coming period. In addition, teachers and non-academic staff will have their working conditions attacked. Ultimately the gains recently won by staff unions in the education sector will be threatened. This may lead to another round of strikes and disruptions in the academic calendar.

Fees will be hiked in public tertiary institutions. Universities like the Lagos State University (LASU) where a major fee battle was won last year will be threatened by the possibility of a re-introduction of high fees. If this happens, the argument of the new government in Lagos will be the same: To build a 21st century university, you have to pay more! As things stand now, attempts are already being made to claw back the gains of the struggles. Few people outside of LASU remember today that in the wake of the defeat of the fee hike last year after a 6-month long struggle, the Lagos State government was compelled not only to reverse the fee completely but also to enter into an agreement to release a sum of N69 million to refund all students who had to pay the hiked fees in the 2013/2014 academic session. Till today and with just about four (4) months to the end of incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola's tenure, this has not materialised! Also many of the students and members of staff who played leading roles in the struggle are now being victimised.

Students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) whose fee battle was truncated before it could achieve victory last year must be ready to defend even the current level of fees. This is because as State governments are finding it difficult to pay workers, the question of adequate allocation to schools would be the least on their agenda. And where allocations to schools fall short, the default response of school administration is to pass the responsibility to students by hiking fees.

Same goes for the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife. The blind alley of the policy of "diplomacy", as opposed to mass struggle being the basis upon which any negotiations take place, is being exposed in the current situation in OAU. If it was difficult for the University administration to reduce the fees last year, it would take real, bitter and bold mass struggle to force a reduction, not to talk of a reversal, now in the era of austerity. Even if as is expected, the Federal government orders reduction of the fees, this would be no more than a decision made by President Jonathan because of elections that would be reversed immediately the government feels comfortable.

A Yoruba adage says: "a calamity that befalls one's peer is a warning to oneself". Fees were recently hiked at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) leading to spontaneous protest on Monday 26 January 2015. This is just the first salvo of what will be an all-out assault against public education once the elections are over. Unlike last year when only a few institutions had their fees hiked, the coming period will see a generalised increase in fees under all kinds of guises. This why the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) is also calling for a generalised resistance. We need a resistance that unites all students across campuses with education workers and the wider working class in a joint struggle against austerity policies.

The ERC is a campaign platform formed by the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) in 2004 against the background of the ideological collapse of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). This ideological collapse of NANS still exists till today. But it has become worse. There is hardly any Students Union across campuses in Nigeria today whose leadership is not populated by rightwing elements who see struggle as unnecessary even in the face of the most provocative assault on students rights and conditions. When these unions struggle at all, it is because the leadership was forced to do so by mass pressure from students.

However the point that must be made is that the predominantly rightwing character of the leadership of the student movement has seriously complicated the condition of struggle. Now we have in the student movement a situation where the consciousness of the students falls very short of the demands and severity of their situation. It is like the horse of the student movement is behind its cart. When students protest at all, in most cases, it is in reaction to injustice committed years ago. At the Michael Otedola Collage of Primary Education (MOCPED) in Epe Lagos, degree students have only just started protesting against a four-year old scam in which students pay fees, attend classes and write exams only to complete their studies without statement of result or certificate. Results are rarely released at every end of the semester. You would have thought struggle would have developed on that kind of issue long before now. Only on a few campuses where left and radical organisations exist are struggles developing correspondingly to attacks. But even here, rightwing union leaders are still successfully holding back struggle.

However the successful struggle against LASU fees last year boldly shows that this situation in the student movement can be overcome if activists, left organisations, ideological and radical groups unite around a campaign to step up struggle. Before the Student Union leadership of LASU became willing to lead the struggle, it was the work done by the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) and the #SaveLASU Campaign Movement that first popularised the issue of LASU fee hike, pushed it to the front burner of public discourse and compelled the State government to begin to defend itself in the media. With the working class later joining the struggle for reversal of the fees through strikes led by ASUU and SSANU LASU as well as the May Day protest by the Joint Action Front (JAF), it was only a matter of time before the State government acquiesced.

In the present circumstance in the student movement, we need to begin to organise and prepare for the eventuality of austerity attacks on the education. It is inevitable that there is currently within the student movement and generally in society a feeling of "the attacks aren’t here yet". This may even become more pronounced in a situation where the opposition wins the February 14, 2015 general elections. However no one must be fooled. Whatever feeling of restraint will be temporary. For as soon as the new capitalist government stabilizes itself, it would launch into the job of saving the system by applying cuts to education and other social services. In 1984 under the impact of a similar crises caused by oil price decline, Buhari government cancelled the University cafeteria system which was a system of subsidized feeding. Its cancellation meant the removal of an important crucial support system that permitted vast sections of poor students to apply for and complete University education in the 70s.

The benefit of preparation allows us not to be caught unawares. For instance what the victorious LASU struggle teaches is that when a campaign already exists, it can immediately take advantage of a changed situation and become a mass pole of attraction for those who want to fight back. A sort of an Anti-Austerity campaign/coalition uniting left groups, student unions, rank and file activists across campuses can begin now the most important work of preparing the student movement by first and foremost organising activities to raise the political level of the movement to comprehend the enormity of the situation we are in. Secondly, this alliance or coalition can also begin the work of campaigning for the NANS and other official platforms of students to develop a fighting program to resist the inevitable attacks.

When the attack eventually comes, the rightwing leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will come under severe test. This is because the severity of the imminent attacks on education will demand methods of resistance that goes far beyond the capacity of individual campuses. The question of a nationwide one-day lecture boycott and mass protests may come back to the front burner of the student movement once again. To resist austerity attacks on education in 1984, Nigerian students led by NANS embarked on nationwide boycott and demonstration. Building a campaign or coalition that links activists, left groups and unions across campuses is a good starting point to begin to demonstrate the scale of resistance required and build the forces that can play leading roles in organising a fightback.

The ERC is calling for the building of a united campaign against cuts and for an alternative to the capitalist policy of austerity.

We put forward the following points to be the basis of a campaign. We are prepared to work with all forces that genuinely want to stop the cuts but, at the same time, the ERC believes it is necessary to outline an alternative to this crisis ridden system.

While we do not insist that all participants in the campaign agree with all our ideas, apart from the fundamental point of opposition to all cuts, we believe that the movement needs to have an alternative which, in the ERC’s view would be based around the following:

(1) An alternative to austerity that demands reversal of all hiked fees and improvement in the budgetary allocation to education

(2) Massive public works program to rebuild and improve teaching and living conditions in the education sector  from primary to tertiary levels.

(3) A genuine free education policy to ensure that the over 10.5 million out-of-school children are absorbed into schools and receive quality education.

(4) Democratisation of the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to include elected representatives of teachers, students and parents in order for the public to be able to monitor and stop the entrenched corruption in this agency which has affected its effectiveness.

(5) Payment of a Cost of Studying Allowance (COSA) to all students of tertiary institutions to cover costs of textbooks, feeding, clothing and transport.

(6) Jobs for all graduates. For an adequate unemployment allowance to be paid to all graduates without a job.

(7) Implementation of all collective agreements with staff unions, improvement in the wages and conditions of all education workers.

(8) For respect of democratic rights on campuses. Restore all banned unions and reinstate all politically victimised students and staff union leaders/activists.

(9) A capital no to austerity. Of course the capitalist government will respond with the mantra "it is good economic sense to reduce spending in a period of cash flow challenges" which is another name for austerity. To this, the student movement must respond by demanding cuts to the outrageous salaries and allowances of political office holders, reducing the bloated number of the political office holders, blocking of wastage and corruption, repudiation of all fictitious debts, heavy taxation of the profit of the rich and the multinational companies. These are the areas where cuts are needed, not education and other social services.

(10) Nationalisation of the oil industry, banks and finance under public democratic control and management that would allow the beginning of planned environmentally friendly development of production, diversification of the economy through investment in large scale farming and massive investment in rural areas, state control of foreign trade etc.



H.T Soweto                                                  Michael Ogundele
National Coordinator                                     National Secretary