A faction of the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) has accused the National President, Lucky Emonefe, and the association’s Senate President, Babatunde Afeez, of bias in the distribution of Compressed Natural Gas buses donated by the Federal Government to tertiary institutions.
Recall that in September last year, the Federal Government handed over 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
Forty buses were given to the labour unions, 20 to the Students Union, and four were kept at the Federal Capital Territory.
The faction in a petition made available to journalists in Awka on Monday, accused the student leaders of selectively distributing the buses, leaving many students without access to the buses.
The petition was jointly signed by the Deputy Senate President, Huzaifa Usman (Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State); National Ex-Officio Member, Anderson Uwakwe (Federal College of Land and Resources Technology, Owerri, Imo State); and Vice President, Special Duties, Egbo Johnpaul Nnamchi (Enugu State College of Education).
Other signatories included Gundu Mimidoo Joy (Public Relations Officer, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State), Abdulkaman Muhammad, Muhd Muazu, Mamuna Bello, Paul Edoh Gabriel, Kabiru Saminu, and Okafor Ernest Obinna.
The petition, which was copied to President Bola Tinubu, called on him to intervene urgently to prevent a breakdown of law and order and safeguard his political integrity.
A copy of the petition was also sent to the Director General of the Department of State Services, the Inspector General of Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Matters, the Minister of Transportation, NANS Zonal Coordinators, NANS JCC Chairmen, and all SUG Presidents.
Part of the petition read: “Your Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Petition Against the Unequal Distribution of CNG Buses by the NANS President and Senate President, and a Vote of No Confidence in Lucky Emonefe and Babatunde Akinteye Afeez.
“On behalf of Nigerian students, we write to express our utmost indignation and disappointment at the egregious unequal distribution of the CNG buses recently donated to the National Association of Nigerian Students.
“This decision, made by the NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, in collaboration with the Senate President, Babatunde Akinteye Afeez, flagrantly disregards the principles of equity, justice, and transparency.
“The buses, intended to benefit all Nigerian students, have been selectively distributed, leaving many students without access to these vital resources. This unequal distribution will inevitably lead to a shortage of transportation options on campuses, causing undue hardship and economic challenges for Nigerian students.”
The petition further stated that the shortage of these buses will increase transportation costs, further burdening students already struggling with the economic challenges in the country.
It urged Tinubu to act decisively to address the issue, warning that failure to do so could damage his political integrity and undermine trust in the NANS leadership.
The students who passed a vote of no confidence of their two leaders, demanded a thorough investigation into the distribution process, the immediate redistribution of the buses, and disciplinary action against the NANS President and Senate President.