World Press Briefing On The State Of NAPS Friday, 19th November, 2021.

Protocols 

All of greatest Nigerian Students, critical progressive Polytechnic Stakeholders, gentlemen of the press, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. 

As an apostle of justice in the temple of peace and tranquility, I humbly welcome everyone to this emergency but important press briefing by the Senate leadership of NAPS. 

It is however germane and sacrosanct that we gather here today to brief, update, and address the Nigerian Polytechnic Students Movement.

_"As much as our Unity is Unquestionable, the key players and the road that leads to our Unison must not be Questionable! It must be in diversity of purpose for our collective progression and productivity of values as a Union and Family."_

In accordance with the tradition and constitution of our dear organization, the process at which this organization transit power/leadership is well scripted by our founding fathers. On this foundation, the organization has been running a smooth transition for two decades. We resist in every and heavy totality to deviate in the defense for humanity and constitution governing this body.

It's no longer a news in the Polytechnic Students Movement that the plans to pocket this organization by a business man has been plotted in collaboration with stakeholders who are hellbent for money in exchange for the independence and freedom of about 30 millions Nigerian Students of Polytechnic, Monotechnic, Colleges of Technology, Colleges of Agriculture and Health Sciences extracts and all other related institutions awarding ND and HND certificates across the Federation and diaspora. This unacceptable activity of projected slavery is a bad omen and red signal to the organization, the upcoming generations, and our society by extension. 

The Red Signals:

1. First time ever that the National Students Movement will plan National Convention without National Pre-Convention. The NAPS Constitution states as follows: 

_B. THE CONVEYING AUTHORITY_

_i. The NAPS Senate shall, at their last meeting fix the date and venue of the next annual convention. No other organ of NAPS shall appropriate to itself the duty of convening the convention other than NAPS senate._

_ii. The Annual Convention shall be held every year between the months of January and February._

2. First time some set of leaders set themselves as Constitution Review Committee to rigorously and selfishly change the Constitution binding millions of Nigerian Students overnight without the Senate Assembly. Alas, the rigidity of the binding documents, and the custodians of the lawmaking Senate Assembly of NAPS has severally failed them. This is against the mass-base capacity of our dear organization. It's a rape on our Charter of Demands. The Constitution says as follows: 

_"A(i) This constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and person members of the National Association of Polytechnic Students._

_(ii) That the National Association of Polytechnic Students shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the governance or leadership of NAPS or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this constitution._

_(iii) If any other communiqué is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail and that other communiqués shall to the extent of the inconsistency by void."_

3. First time NAPS is planning to have her National Convention in Abuja (Business Centre) insisted by a business man (acclaimed National Patron). Mind you, Abuja is the only axis that is not housing any structure of NAPS. The Constitution states as follows: 

_"(F) Federal Objectives and Directive principles of NAPS:_

_It shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of NAPS, and of all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, and executive powers to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of this article of this constitution._

_i. The National Association of Polytechnic Students shall be a mass based organization based on the principles of democracy, egalitarian and social justice._

_ii. It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:_

_a. Sovereignty of NAPS belongs to the member union from whom its organization govern through this constitution derives all its powers and authority._

_b. The education and welfare of the organization’s government; and_

_c. That mass based participation by its members in the administration of their organization shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this constitution._

_iii. The composition of NAPS or any of this agent organs and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect mass representation and the dire need to promote national unity, and also to command national regality, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from certain zones or from few ethnic or other sectional groups in the organization governance or in any of its organs._

_iv. The composition of NAPS in governance, legislative, executive or any of its organs of governance of leadership, and the conduct of the affairs of its government or leadership or any organs shall be carried out in such manner as to recognize diversity of its members unions within the area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and legality among all the members of the organization."_

Should we wait till the moment the decision making of rightful owners of NAPS will be taken out of campuses, till when the coming generations started clamouring like our mother union (NANS) that,  "returning NAPS back to campuses?"

We refuse to be sold!

4. Same set of leaders/stakeholders unlawfully appointed a businessman (who has not brought anything to Polytechnic Students' table, but taking from our table with stipends in millions to cajole our leaders to the extent of sporadically dashing out our prides and foundation of our founding fathers) as a National Patron without regards to the Constitution enshrining the Senate Assembly it capacity to scrutinize, verify, and ratify as part of the legislative business/responsibility of the Senate Assembly of NAPS. The Charter of Demands states as follows:

 _"ARTICLE 6: PATRONS AND LEGAL ADVISER_

_i. The Executive Council shall recommend to the congress, patrons/advisers for appointment._

_ii. Such recommendation shall be approved by 2/3 majority votes of the congress._

_iii. Removal of such patrons/advisers shall be on the recommendation of Executive Council to the congress who shall approve same 2/3 majority votes."_

These, and many more too numerous to mention are bedevilling our dear organization. At a critical time like this, the obedience to the Constitution is the only way to pursuit justice, peace, unity, and progress of this great association. 

The leadership of NAPS National Senate Assembly hereby without fear of favor disassociate selves from the illegal gathering tagged Convention proposed for Abuja by unconstituted authorities as we can not guarantee the safety and security of all participating institutions of NAPS. And therefore, the Senate Assembly of NAPS shall not bare or be responsible for the security of anyone partaking or promoting Abuja illegal arrangements. It is in this vein, we urge all Heads of Institutions (Rectors) to restrict their Students from unlawful gathering as its against the polity, policy, and politics of our organization's integrity.

You will recall that this Assembly has earlier released notification/invitation for NAPS National Annual Pre-Convention slated for 21st to 24th, November 2021 at The Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State. 

With the spirit of malice to none and concentrated passion to all, embedded with high level of patriotic sagacity, academic ingenuity, and socioeconomic and political dexterity. The proposed Pre-Convention is hereby postponed till Sunday, 28th November to Wednesday, 1st December, 2021. In the intent of giving room for wider coverage for consideration of legality. With this, we believe projectors of bad image of this organization shall have a rethink to allow the law take it full course. 

We urge all Aspirants, and Distinguished Senators to ensure averting wastage of time and resources. 

_"As much our Unity is Unquestionable, the key players and the road that leads to our Unison must not be Questionable! It must be in diversity of purpose for our collective progression and productivity of values as a Union and Family." ---iOS_

In combatant solidarity, permit to say Aluta Continua!!

As long as we lives, the struggle for justice is achievable!! 

Dare to Struggle!! 

Dare to Win!!

Amb. Ibrahim Olawale Seriki, NAPS National Senate President.

[email protected]

[email protected]

08100766636