NANS IN TURMOIL: SECRETARY-GENERAL’S OUTBURST DEEPENS CRISIS OVER ALLEGED ₦1.5M “BEST STUDENTS” PAYOUT
Sinach
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been thrown into one of its most embarrassing internal crises this year as sharp controversy trails the purported distribution of ₦1.5 million to 14 “best students” from the 14 faculties of the University of Abuja — a gesture allegedly sponsored by the NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja.
What was initially packaged as an act of academic encouragement has now exploded into a scandal marked by accusations of bias, secrecy, personal vendettas, and a possible cover-up.
According to multiple accounts, the cash awards were meant to serve as a “compensation” after the widely publicized embarrassment at the recent International Students’ Day celebration at the University of Abuja, where expired drinks were allegedly distributed under NANS supervision.
Instead of calming tensions, the payout has raised more questions than answers.
Reports indicate that the selection of beneficiaries did not follow federal character, did not reflect national unity, and was not even based on academic merit — contrary to the narrative pushed out by NANS HQ.
Students across campuses are now demanding the simplest of things: accountability.
“Since NANS claimed it was the ‘best students’ that got the money, let them publish the names. Let Nigerians see who these ‘best’ students are.”
But as the pressure mounted, an unexpected twist emerged — the NANS Secretary-General himself allegedly burst out in anger, issuing threats, sending intimidating messages, and attempting to silence critics behind the scenes.
The NANS Sec-Gen, whose duty ordinarily includes promoting transparency and defending the integrity of the association, has instead been accused of offering a biased defence of the controversial payout.
Sources within NANS reveal that out of the 14 supposed beneficiaries:
7 were allegedly from the South-West,
leaving the remaining 5 geopolitical zones to scramble over the remaining 7 slots.
This lopsided distribution has now deepened suspicion that the entire initiative may have been politically calculatedrather than academically motivated.
Perhaps the most disturbing revelation is that multiple insider reports claim not up to 14 students actually received any money.
If true, this suggests two dangerous possibilities:
The funds were mismanaged, diverted, or never fully released.
The entire ceremony was a facade — a photo-op designed to save face after the expired drinks debacle.
Either way, the students are demanding evidence.
Show the beneficiaries. Publish the names. Release the breakdown. Prove the money was truly disbursed.
Instead of responding with transparency, the Secretary-General allegedly slipped into threats, warning of lawsuits and sending intimidating messages to student journalists and commentators.
For a position expected to protect student voices, support press freedom, and engage constructively with media startups, the Sec-Gen’s alleged behavior is now being seen as:
undemocratic,
bullying,
and a deliberate attempt to suppress accountability.
One student journalist said:
“While it is supposed to be the duty of the NANS President and Secretary-General to support student media, he is attacking the same platforms he secretly wishes he owned.”
With NANS already struggling to maintain relevance in the eyes of Nigerian students, this latest scandal has further eroded trust.
What was meant to be a simple goodwill gesture has now:
questioned the moral authority of NANS leadership,
exposed internal fractures,
highlighted a culture of impunity,
and pushed students to demand reforms more aggressively than ever.
What Students Now Expect
Immediate publication of the beneficiaries’ names.
Breakdown of the ₦1.5 million disbursement.
Clarification on why federal character and merit were ignored.
A proper internal inquiry into allegations of intimidation.
A public explanation for the expired drinks incident.
This scandal is no longer just about ₦1.5 million.
It is about trust, accountability, and the credibility of Nigeria’s largest student body.
Until NANS leadership comes clean, the questions will linger — and so will the growing distrust among the very students they claim to serve.
About the Author
Sinach
A les Avocat, living with the It Begins With Me Mantra and determined to dot all i's and cross all t's for a better Nigeria.
