By Adeola Badru 

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has called for an immediate independent investigation into the crisis at Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree, warning that continued administrative failures at the institution could further undermine the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria.

In a statement signed on Thursday by its National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde (GCNS), the student body issued a seven-day ultimatum to key regulatory and anti-corruption agencies to commence a comprehensive investigation into allegations of poor governance, inadequate academic delivery, financial mismanagement and administrative inefficiency at the institution.

According to NANS, its intervention is not motivated by personal grievances but by concerns over the state of higher education and the welfare of students.

“We are not here to witch-hunt any individual, nor are we driven by personal vendettas against any administrative actor.“

“We are driven strictly by a profound commitment to a sound pedagogical system, the uncompromised welfare of our students, and the preservation of a healthy academic environment,” the association stated.

NANS alleged that students at the polytechnic had endured prolonged academic disruptions, claiming that some lecturers had failed to deliver lectures consistently while students were allegedly subjected to multiple payments for handouts and administrative receipts. 

The association further claimed that the institution’s recent Computer-Based Test (CBT) examinations exposed serious technological shortcomings.

The statement said the management allegedly required students to sit digital examinations without providing sufficient computer facilities or reliable internet infrastructure, forcing many candidates to rely on personal mobile devices.

“The management mandated a digital exam format without providing a single computer or a reliable campus network infrastructure, forcing students onto a broken mobile portal where standard Android phones glitched completely, leaving only iPhone users capable of writing the test,” NANS alleged.

The association further claimed that the situation resulted in overcrowding at examination venues and that several students reportedly fainted during the exercise due to the resulting confusion.

NANS also expressed concern over what it described as allegations of irregularities involving examination records and certificate processing, arguing that the claims warranted immediate scrutiny by independent authorities.

The student body criticised the silence of the institution’s management and the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), saying neither had publicly addressed the allegations several days after they emerged.

“In a sane environment, the management and the local staff structures would have immediately cleared the air and addressed the public. By remaining silent for over a week, they have tacitly accepted guilt, which is why we must call upon independent bodies to step in immediately and save the school from total collapse,” the statement said.

NANS also called on the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to conduct an audit of infrastructure projects and intervention funds allocated to the institution, particularly in relation to information and communication technology facilities.

“It is a known fact that TETFund regularly releases substantial public funds to this institution for infrastructural upscaling, yet there is absolutely nothing on the ground to show for it as regards ICT development.“

“TETFund must step in immediately to trace these funds, demand accountability for the non-existent ICT facilities, and ensure that public resources are actually deployed to correct what needs to be corrected,” the association stated.

The association further linked the current concerns to previous complaints by graduates who have reportedly experienced delays in mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

According to NANS, affected graduates had attributed the delays to unresolved administrative issues involving academic records and Senate list uploads.

“How long will the supervising authorities sit back, fold their arms, and just keep looking at this mess without swinging into action?“

“We cannot allow this level of administrative negligence to continually destroy our education system and sabotage the destinies of young Nigerians,” the statement added.

NANS called on the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), ASUP National, TETFund, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to jointly investigate the allegations and undertake what it described as a forensic audit of the institution’s financial and administrative processes.

The association warned that if no investigation begins within seven days, it would relocate its national leadership to the OSPOLY campus and commence peaceful protests aimed at shutting down administrative activities until its demands are addressed.

“If a transparent, independent investigation is not actively commenced within the next seven days, the national leadership of NANS HQ will completely relocate to the OSPOLY campus to take over the struggle physically and shut down all administrative operations,” the statement read.

NANS also cautioned the institution’s management against taking disciplinary action against students or whistleblowers who had spoken publicly about the alleged challenges.

“If the management attempts to victimize, suspend, threaten or politically persecute a single student over this exposure, we will immediately mobilise a massive, peaceful national shutdown of the campus and its surrounding networks.“

“This struggle is strictly aimed at protecting the welfare of our students, guaranteeing a sound pedagogical framework and rescuing the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria,” the association said.