AfriPulse
Nigeria’s students apex body, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), on Monday, demanded the immediate removal of the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, over the delay in the payment of allowances under the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
NANS Headquarters, in a statement signed by its Comrade Olatunji Emmanuel Adejuwon, the Assistant Secretary General, received by Daily Independent expressed disgust at what it termed “Persistent and Unjustifiable failure” of the ITF to disburse statutory allowances to thousands of students who participated in the programme across tertiary institutions nationwide.
It alleged that these entitlements have remained unpaid for several years, despite repeated complaints, petitions, and engagements by student unions and other stakeholders.
Disturbed by ITF failure to fulfil its obligations to deserving students, NANS lamented that the situation has caused severe financial hardships for affected students and undermining the credibility of SIWES, a programme intended to enhance skills acquisition, employability, and national workforce development.
The association alleged lack of transparent, comprehensive, or credible explanation from the ITF leadership regarding the status of the outstanding payments.
It criticised the ongoing silence, poor communication, and absence of accountability as constituting administrative failure and a breach of public trust.
While not pronouncing guilt, NANS averred that widespread allegations of mismanagement and possible diversion of SIWES funds among students are “deeply disturbing” and warrant urgent scrutiny to ensure transparent accounting of public funds meant for student welfare.
Citing a loss of confidence in the current ITF leadership, NANS demanded the immediate removal of Dr. Ogun as Director-General, stating that his continued tenure is “Untenable and inimical to accountability, transparency, and institutional credibility.”
The student body issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to either remove Dr. Ogun or have him resign honourably to enable a transparent investigation into the non-payments.
Failure to act, NANS warned, would be seen as institutional indifference to students’ plight and prompt escalation through all available democratic means.
The statement added, “Furthermore, we call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately invite the ITF leadership for a thorough investigation and explanation regarding the unpaid SIWES allowances. Nigerian students and the general public deserve a full account of how SIWES funds have been managed over the years.
“We also call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently intervene by ordering a comprehensive forensic audit of SIWES funds and ensuring that all outstanding allowances are paid without further delay. Pending the outcome of investigations, decisive action must be taken to restore confidence in the administration of the scheme.
NANS averred that Nigerian students should not continue to pay the price for administrative incompetence or institutional negligence, adding, “SIWES is not a privilege; it is a statutory entitlement. Any leadership that consistently fails to honour this obligation has failed its mandate.’
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Source: Independent.ng | Read the Full Story…
