NAUS Unveils Reform Agenda, Demands Urgent Action On Welfare, Security

The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has unveiled reform agenda aimed at repositioning student leadership in Nigeria, while calling for urgent government action on student welfare, insecurity on campuses and improved transparency in education financing.

Speaking at his first press conference as National President, Comrade Meshach Anthony Nwankwo, said his administration would usher in a new era of responsible student leadership, constructive engagement and purposeful representation anchored on integrity, accountability and results-driven advocacy.

According to him, NAUS would not be reduced to a platform for endless press statements or confrontation, but would focus on practical solutions to challenges facing Nigerian university students.

Nwankwo reaffirmed that NAUS would remain an independent pressure group, neither aligned to partisan politics nor government control, but committed to students’ welfare and national development.

He added that the association would commend positive government interventions while constructively challenging shortcomings with workable alternatives.

“The National Association of University Students shall remain an independent and responsible pressure group. We shall neither become an appendage of government nor an instrument of partisan politics. Our loyalty is to Nigerian students, to quality education and to the national interest.

“Where government policies improve the welfare of students, we shall openly acknowledge and commend such efforts. Where there are shortcomings, we shall speak truthfully, responsibly and constructively while proposing workable solutions.”

He commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reforms in the education sector, particularly efforts credited with stabilising the academic calendar and reducing industrial actions involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The NAUS president also noted that sustained dialogue and policy engagement had restored greater confidence in public universities.

“The continued efforts to honour agreements reached with relevant stakeholders within the education sector in the last three years has guaranteed uninterrupted academic calendars and has restored confidence in our universities,” he said.

The president further acknowledged ongoing reforms under the Federal Ministry of Education and praised the Honourable Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, for what he described as “positive trajectory in the higher education sector,” urging sustained investment in infrastructure, research, innovation and academic development.

On student financing, NAUS expressed concern over implementation gaps in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) under the Federal Ministry of Education. While recognising the initiative as a step forward, the association highlighted delays and accessibility challenges affecting beneficiaries.

It warned university managements against irregularities in the process and announced plans to establish a monitoring directorate to engage NELFUND and relevant stakeholders for improved transparency.

“While we acknowledge ongoing efforts aimed at improving access to higher education through student support initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) we are genuinely concerned about the delays, accessibility challenges, and implementation gaps experienced by beneficiaries.

“We hereby sound a stern warning to university managements who may be involved in constituting certain irregularities in the entire process. A directorate will be established to look into the operation of NELFUND in our universities and we will constructively engage the leadership of NELFUND, relevant ministries, and other stakeholders to ensure a more transparent, efficient, and student-friendly process so that every eligible student can benefit without unnecessary hardship.”

The association also lauded developments at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), stressing the importance of visible infrastructure such as lecture halls, laboratories and libraries.

However, it said monitoring teams would be deployed across campuses to ensure projects were completed and not abandoned.

Another major concern raised by the association was rising insecurity on campuses.

NAUS described recurring cases of kidnapping and violent attacks as unacceptable, urging federal and state governments to prioritise student safety.