Abia Students Leadership Dissociate Self From NANS Stakeholders, Demand Town hall Meeting With Gov. Ikpeazu

Comrade Frank Eme Orji, the Zonal Representative Abia state National association of Nigerian Student (NANS) in his speech, appreciated the quick response of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to the Covid-19 pandemic and scrapping of the pandemic prevention fee of 15,000 naira initially imposed on Abia state University students which caused outrage and led the government to rescind and ordered payment of 30,000 naira to each Abian student as bursary.

On the purpose of the conference, the Union request governor Ikpeazu to:

1. kindly extend his magnanimity to other institutions in Abia state namely, Micheal Okpara University, Umudike, Abia State college of Education(technical) Arochukwu, Abia state college of Health Science and Management Technology, Aba, Abia State School of nursing, Federal Medical centre Umuahia, Abia State School Of Nursing Amachara, Shcool of Midwifery, Amanchara, Umuahia.

2. Instead of bursary allocation to every Abia student, the government should reduce the tuition fee and hence deducted directly as it will also give credence and hope to Abia students in various institution in the state.

3. That other Abia students from other institutions in Abia state are feeling sidelined by their father and executive governor of Abia state for not being captured in the bursary budget and as such, they solicit passionately for inclusiveness.

Citing the state of campuses of the aforementioned institution in Abia state, the leadership wishes to make some pertinent request for urgent attention from the government of Abia state, which was given as follows:

(i)Government urgent intervention over the case of Comr. Ebere Jonada, former SUG President of Abia state College of Health Sciences Management Technology, Aba, who was unlawfully suspended from academic activities due to an unverified incident without a fair hearing by the management of the school under the administration of Prof. Chidi Felix Ezeama and charged to court over a year now thereby preventing him from graduating as at when due.

(ii)Urgent intervention of the government over the challenges affecting Nigeria students in various campuses which follows:

(A)Provision of transformer for electricity to enable schools function effectively in her technical departments.

(B)Rehabilitation of hostels, classrooms, roads and students union secretariat in selected institutions especially:

(i)Abia State University, Uturu.

(2)Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

(3)Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

(4) Abia State College of Nursing, Amachara.

(5) School of Midwifery Amachara, Umuahia.

(C) Provision of students' union vehicles.

(3) We kindly appeal for a town hall meeting with all the students union leaders of various institution which will help us to address other pertinent issues.

On the activities of the leadership of the students' community at large, we have received series of complaints from various quarters, we wish to state as follows:

1.That the entire leadership of the students' community in Abia state are displeased with the activities of her NANS Stakeholders which has in recent time brought reproach in leadership.

2.We hereby dissociate ourselves from the activities of the NANS stakeholders in Abia state as it does not represent the interest of Nigerian students in Abia state.

3.We hereby, unanimously resolve for an advisory council to be constituted and those to be fit in such council must be competent enough to play Advisory roles to the leadership when necessary.

4.That the office of special assistance to Governor on Students' Affairs should kindly take necessary actions and incorporate the entire leadership in ensuring it's a success and duties clearly specified for the interest of Nigerian students.

"Lastly, we appreciate all sundry for collective efforts to ensure that one of us, Divine Stanley of Micheal Okpara University of AgricultureLargo's who was unlawfully incarcerated by Lagos state police command was released unconditionally."

Other executives present at the conference are Prince Udensi, the scribe of National association of students worldwide. Otuonye Famous, SUG President Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture amongst others.

The student Union president of Abia state university in a responds to the questions fed by pressmen, "if he did received huge some of money as buy-over during the meeting with the governor of Abia state recently?

His response: "We went to the governor over hostel issues such as water, light, toilet and other welfare issue like bursary which I know that he has attended to that.

"We also talked about the incorporation of students on entrepreneur skills and after the interactive section between the SUG EXCOS, all SRC members, departmental presidents, faculty presidents, including students representing various classes and levels.

"After the interactive section, about one hundred and fifty - two hundred present, considering the fact that most us came from far and near for the meeting, after which we were disbursed for logistics, accommodation and transportation for a little sum of money which was disbursed appropriately to all representatives in the meeting.

"It wasn't given to the SUG president personal neither was it a bargain for the pandemic fee or any other thing." He said.

The Abia state Student Union president added that if it is convenient for the government to slash the school fees or pay the said bursary, its best for them to decide but added that "For me, if it is reduced from the school fees, I want it better like that and more applausive for the governor".

The Abia Joint Student leaders on Tuesday held a press conference at Umuahia, Abia state where they made their submission and request to the current state of Abia students and the effect of COVID-19 and scrapped "pandemic prevention fund" which raised dust amongst students.

Frank Eme Orji, the Abia state National association of Nigerian Student (NANS) zonal representative in his speech presentation, appreciated the quick response of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to the Covid-19 pandemic andfew scrapping of the pandemic prevention fee of 15,000 naira initially imposed on Abia state University students which caused outrage and led the government to rescind and ordered payment of 30,000 naira to each Abian student as bursary.

On the purpose of the conference, the Union request governor Ikpeazu to:

1. kindly extend his magnanimity to other institutions in Abia state namely, Micheal Okpara University, Umudike, Abia State college of Education(technical) Arochukwu, Abia state college of Health Science and Management Technology, Aba, Abia State School of nursing, Federal Medical centre Umuahia, Abia State School Of Nursing Amachara, Shcool of Midwifery, Amanchara, Umuahia.

2. Instead of bursary allocation to every Abia student, the government should reduce the tuition fee and hence deducted directly as it will also give credence and hope to Abia students in various institution in the state.

3. That other Abia students from other institutions in Abia state are feeling sidelined by their father and executive governor of Abia state for not being captured in the bursary and as such, they solicit passionately for inclusiveness.

Citing the state of campuses of the aforementioned institution in Abia state, the leadership wishes to make some pertinent request for urgent attention from the government of Abia state, which was given as follows:

(i)Government urgent intervention over the case of Comr. Ebere Jonada, former SUG President of Abia state College of Health Sciences Management Technology, Aba, who was unlawfully suspended from academic activities due to an unverified incident without a fair hearing by the management of the school under the administration of Prof. Chidi Felix Ezeama and charged to court over a year now thereby preventing him from graduating as at when due.

(ii)Urgent intervention of the government over the challenges affecting Nigeria students in various campuses which follows:

(A)Provision of transformer for electricity to enable schools function effectively in her technical departments.

(B) Rehabilitation of hostels, classrooms, roads and students union secretariat in selected institutions especially:

(i)Abia State University, Uturu.

(2)Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

(3)Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

(4) Abia State College of Nursing, Amachara.

(5) School of Midwifery Amachara, Umuahia.

(C)Provision of students' union vehicles.

(3) We kindly appeal for a town hall meeting with all the students union leaders of various institution which will help us to address other pertinent issues.

On the activities of the leadership of the students' community at large, we have received series of complaints from various quarters, we wish to state as follows:

1. That the entire leadership of the students' community in Abia state are displeased with the activities of her NANS Stakeholders which has in recent time brought reproach in leadership.

2. We hereby dissociate ourselves from the activities of the NANS stakeholders in Abia state as it does not represent the interest of Nigerian students in Abia state.

3. We hereby, unanimously resolve for an advisory council to be constituted and those to be fit in such council must be competent enough to play Advisory roles to the leadership when necessary.

4. That the office of special assistance to Governor on Students' Affairs should kindly take necessary actions and incorporate the entire leadership in ensuring it's a success and duties clearly specified for the interest of Nigerian students.

"Lastly, we appreciate all sundry for collective efforts to ensure that one of us, Divine Stanley of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture who was unlawfully incarcerated by Lagos state police command was released unconditionally."

Other executives present at the conference are Prince Udensi, the scribe of National association of students worldwide. Otuonye Famous, SUG President Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture amongst others.

The student Union president of Abia state university in a responds to the questions fed by pressmen, "if he did received huge some of money as buy-over during the meeting with the governor of Abia state recently?

His response: "We went to the governor over hostel issues such as water, light, toilet and other welfare issue like bursary which I know that he has attended to that.

"We also talked about the incorporation of students on entrepreneur skills and after the interactive section between the SUG EXCOS, all SRC members, departmental presidents, faculty presidents, including students representing various classes and levels.

"After the interactive section, about one hundred and fifty - two hundred present, considering the fact that most us came from far and near for the meeting, after which we were disbursed for logistics, accommodation and transportation for a little sum of money which was disbursed appropriately to all representatives in the meeting.

"it wasn't given to the SUG president personal neither was it a bargain for the pandemic fee or any other thing." He said.

The Abia state Student Union president added that if it is convenient for the government to slash the school fees or pay the said bursary, its best for them to decide but added that "For me, if it is reduced from the school fees, I want it better like that and more applause for the governor".