By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Monday, said it has reviewed and adopted its Constitution 40-years after foundation to reflect the country's socioeconomic and security realities.
The President of Senate, NANS, Comrade Chuks Okafor, who disclosed this in a statement at Awka, Anambra State, noted that the exercise took place at the University of Porthcourt (Uniport), Rivers State during it's 66th Senate meeting, over the weekend.
According to him, items in the adopted Constitution included the financial independence of the students both home and abroad, to promote and encourage the socio-cultural and intellectual interests of members, and to act as the representative of members at any given circumstances.
Others to maintain good relationship with the Nigeria Universities and to be the recognized liaison between members and the University authorities in the country, to promote and protect the educational interests and welfare of students, to protect/secure the fundamental rights and privileges of members, mostly students and to promote/protect the good name of NANS (Senate), at all times.
He said that NANS was birthed in 1980 as a successor to the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) which was proscribed by the despotic and anti-students military dispensation of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, and remains the highest decision making body for students studying in institution of higher learning from university cadre with over twenty (30) million members both in Nigeria and Diaspora.
"We are fully committed to the mainstreaming of students and young leaders in governance at all levels with core interest of protecting the dignity and integrity of the students and uniting the students for academic excellence. We must acknowledge that the situation in Nigeria demands a quick review of the constitution to help protect Nigeria Students. NANS reviewed and adopted her constitution; Delineating it according to geo-political zones," he added.