The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has backed protesting law students of Atiba University, Oyo State, over the unresolved accreditation crisis affecting the university’s Law programme and demanded sanctions against the institution. NANS, in a statement signed by its President, Akinteye Babatunde, on Tuesday, August 25, said the affected……
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has backed protesting law students of Atiba University, Oyo State, over the unresolved accreditation crisis affecting the university’s Law programme and demanded sanctions against the institution.
NANS, in a statement signed by its President, Akinteye Babatunde, on Tuesday, August 25, said the affected students had exhausted dialogue and consultations with the university management before taking to the streets in protest.
The association expressed concern that students who had completed their academic requirements and passed the necessary examinations were unable to proceed to the Nigerian Law School due to regulatory issues surrounding the programme.
According to NANS, the situation was particularly disturbing because the university allegedly continued to admit students into the Law programme despite its inability to secure recognition and approval from the Council of Legal Education (CLE).
“It is unacceptable that innocent students who were duly admitted, who have completed their academic requirements and passed the requisite examinations, are left to bear the consequences of regulatory issues for which they are in no way responsible,” the association said.
NANS questioned the competence of the university’s management and said it should be held accountable for the predicament faced by the affected students.
The student body also commended the protesting students for taking action after attempts at dialogue failed, assuring them of its support.
“You have taken the bold step after dialogue has failed. Be assured that you have the unalloyed support of NANS. We stand in solidarity with you, we are with you in this struggle, and we will ensure that we achieve the desired result,” it said.
NANS subsequently called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to withdraw Atiba University’s operating licence, arguing that the institution should not continue admitting students into a programme that is not duly accredited.
“We equally call on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to immediately withdraw the university’s licence,” the association said.
NANS further demanded that the university management resolve all outstanding issues affecting the Law programme and provide a “clear and credible pathway” for affected students and graduates who have fulfilled the required academic conditions to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.
The association warned that failure by the university to address the matter promptly could lead to further escalation of the protest.
“The leadership of NANS, the apex student representative body, will continue to speak and amplify the voice of Nigerian students at every level,” the statement added.
