By Fawaz Balogun
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, has maintained his position on his intention to propose bills seeking amendments to the NANS Constitution.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the NANS president on Sunday, August 23, 2026, on his official Facebook page.
“Let me make it clear: my interest in strengthening the laws governing NANS is not borne out of personal interest, witch-hunting or an attempt to frustrate anyone’s ambition. It is about building a stronger, more independent and student-centred NANS, an organisation we can all be proud of,” Akinteye wrote.
He stated that a person cannot become NANS president if they are not a student, while noting that the initiative should be acknowledged.
He mentioned that Comrade Sunday Asefon started the process of the reform which formed the foundation upon which subsequent administrations, including the Lucky administration where he served as Senate President was built.
“During my tenure as Senate President, when the Constitution was being amended, I observed that some individuals who were civil servants, government workers and even lecturers were still contesting for positions within the organisation,” he said.
“I raised the issue at the time, but the move encountered resistance because some members of the amendment committee were themselves civil servants with ambitions within NANS.”
Akinteye stated that he overlooked it due to other critical aspects of the constitutional amendment that required immediate attention.
He further asserted that his actions were not about ‘witch-hunting’ anyone but about giving NANS greater independence and ensuring that the organisation remains fundamentally student-centred.
“In Nigeria, there are established rules guiding the participation of civil servants in political and public activities. Where applicable, individuals are required to resign or obtain the necessary approval before taking up certain positions.”
“Serving in NANS is not compulsory. Being a civil servant is a career. If you have secured government employment and subsequently decide to contest for an executive position in NANS, then you should be prepared to make the necessary sacrifice and comply with the law,” he added.
He also affirmed that civil servants interested in NANS positions should forfeit their employment with official evidence to that effect.
“The proposed reform is straightforward: a government worker who wishes to contest for and serve as an executive of NANS should either resign from the relevant employment or obtain an officially approved leave of absence, with verifiable evidence from the appropriate authority.”
The NANS president further reiterated that the amendment process would be pursued to a logical conclusion.
According to him, two bills are to be presented to The NANS Senate which could either be approved or rejected.
“Tomorrow, the two proposed bills, one addressing the declaration of factions within the organisation and the other addressing the eligibility of civil servants to serve as NANS executives, will be presented before the Senate, and the constitutional amendment process will formally begin,” he added.
