Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) say they have been taken for a ride as they condemn the award of Education Minister Mallam Adamu Adamu National Honours of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) by the President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a press release signed by the National PRO, NANS, Giwa Yisa Temitope , the students expressed their dissatisfaction with the government over the award as a move coming at the wrong time.
”It constitutes an insult on the collective intelligence of Nigerian students both home and in the diaspora that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu under whose nose University students have been home for close to 8 months is to be awarded the National Honours of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
This singular act of the Buhari’s administration is a clear pointer to the fact that Nigerian students have been taken for a ride. And, we see this as the final straw that breaks the back of the camel of Buhari’s much touted integrity.
”As an association, we reiterate that we pass a vote of no confidence on both Mallam Adamu Adamu and Chris Ngige. And, we maintain that we shall be back to the streets in protest against the recklessness of this administration until the Federal Government settle every issue with ASUU and Nigerian students return to lecture theatres. ”
The students described the National Honours is more of recognition of patronage than recognition of excellence. The described the development as an indication that Nigerian students are not on the priority list of the administration.
”It is so unfortunate that a country which offered so much in hope and possibilities at independence has today become a land of suffering, insecurity and near hopelessness signposted by youth unemployment and underfunded educational sector.
In a functioning country, both the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige who shamefully walked out of a meeting with the national leadership of ASUU at the instance of the House of Representatives and his Education counterpart would have been fired before now. But, reverse is the case as Adamu Adamu under whose watch the educational sector of the country has totally collapsed is to be recognized with a National Honours for a job well-done.”
