The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has clarified its position on the proposed collection of capitation dues from students, saying it has not entered into any partnership or agreement with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the collection of the dues.
The clarification followed a statement by the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters distancing the Scheme from a viral publication concerning the proposed collection of NANS capitation dues directly from students.
In a statement signed by its President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, NANS said its position on capitation dues was not motivated by greed or an intention to impose additional burdens on students.
The student body said its proposal was based on provisions of the NANS Constitution, arguing that students already pay Student Union dues on their respective campuses.
NANS maintained that as the apex student organisation in the country, with broader responsibilities, it has a constitutional mandate to collect capitation dues to support its operations.
The association also clarified that it had never announced a partnership with the NYSC for the collection of the dues.
According to NANS, the impression that such an arrangement existed arose from what it described as misinformation following the publication by Punch of an informal Facebook discussion.
“NANS is an organisation that can propose partnerships to any government agency or institution. It is, however, left for the agency or institution to either accept or reject such a proposal,” the statement said.
The association stressed that it had never approached the NYSC for a Memorandum of Understanding, collaboration or partnership concerning the collection of its capitation dues.
NANS said it would announce any government agency or institution it eventually partners with for the collection of the dues after putting the necessary measures in place.
It urged students, members of the public and other stakeholders to disregard reports suggesting that it had already reached an agreement with the NYSC.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, effective representation and the protection of the interests of Nigerian students.
It reported earlier that the management of the National Youth Service Corp had distanced itself from involvement in what it described as “Mobilisation Levy”.
The position of the NYSC was contained in a press statement signed by its Director of public relations, Caroline Embu.
