NANS Mobilises Members For 2018 Appropriation Bill

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has hinted that it is  mobilising millions of members  to occupy both chambers of the  National Assembly over Energising Education Programme (EEP) in 2018  Appropriation Bill.
EEP is a programme designed by the Federal Ministry of Power,  Works and Housing to ensure 24hours, seven-day a week supply of  electricity to tertiary  institutions in Nigeria and their environs.
The programme, which is funded by the World Bank in collaboration with  the Federal Government, would ensure alternative, renewable and  cleaner energy.
National President of NANS, Comrade Kadiri Aruna, said this in a  statement he signed and issued in Enugu on Sunday.
According to him, due to the constant engagement of leadership of NANS  with the Federal Government on averting some incidents leading to  increase in tuition fees, the Federal Government graciously introduced  the EEP in the 2018 Appropriation Bill.
“Curiously the information at the disposal of the leadership of NANS  is that some powerful unpatriotic cabal is set to sabotage the programme under the spurious claim that their constituencies have no  electricity and as such, tertiary institutions of learning should not  have.
“Our question is: are these tertiary institutions situated in  Cameroun, Niger, Chad or Benin Republic?
“The truth is that they are demanding the contract for the job or a  truncation of the programme,’’ he said.
According to him, it is inconceivable that any group of Nigerians,  especially legislators can for any reason vow to truncate this  programme simply because their business interest is not served.
“Consequently, NANS shall be occupying the National Assembly on her  resumption in January.
“NANS will remain there until the students and Nigerians, especially  parents who bear the burden of school fees and other problems  associated with service delivery to their children and wards receive  the assurance of the National Assembly that this timely intervention  called EEP is not truncated.’’ he said.
The national president noted that leadership of Nigerian students  cannot stand aside and look; “enough is enough, for this sabotage of  our national aspirations as students’’.
He noted the EEP programme would solve the problem of the increment in  school fees in tertiary institutions and “provides 24/7 electricity  supply to tertiary institutions and university teaching hospitals as  well’’.