A fresh wave of tension has gripped the student community in Ogun State following strong allegations of undue interference by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the forthcoming convention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun Joint Campus Council (JCC).
In a statement released by concerned stakeholders under the banner of the NANS JCC Stakeholders Forum, student leaders warned against what they described as “sustained and troubling attempts” by security operatives to influence the outcome of the convention scheduled for May 2, 2026.
The statement, signed by Comrade Olatoye Daniel, expressed alarm over alleged efforts to manipulate the list of delegate institutions—an action stakeholders say could compromise the integrity of the electoral process. According to the group, such interference undermines the long-standing principle that student leadership must emerge solely from the will of students.
While acknowledging the statutory role of the DSS as defined under the National Security Agencies Act, the stakeholders emphasized that the agency’s mandate is limited to safeguarding Nigeria’s internal security. They argued that this responsibility does not extend to involvement in student union elections or leadership selection processes.
“The convention is strictly a student affair, governed by the constitution of NANS and supervised by the national leadership,” the statement read. “Any attempt to dictate outcomes or alter delegate structures is a violation of democratic norms within the student movement.”
The group further clarified that thirteen accredited institutions have already been officially recognized by the national leadership to participate in the convention, dismissing any external attempt to alter that arrangement as illegitimate.
Raising concerns about the broader implications, the stakeholders warned that interference in student unionism could suppress independent voices and destabilize academic environments. They pledged to resist any such actions through lawful means, including peaceful mass action, legal challenges, and international advocacy.
In a set of demands directed at the DSS, the group called for an immediate halt to all forms of involvement in the convention process. They also urged the agency to focus strictly on its core duty of providing security and to ensure the safety of all participants throughout the event.
Observers note that tensions between student bodies and security agencies are not new, but the latest development highlights ongoing concerns about autonomy within student governance structures. Analysts say how the situation unfolds could set an important precedent for the relationship between state institutions and independent student organizations.
As the convention approaches, all eyes remain on Ogun State, where students are determined to assert their right to self-governance in what they describe as a defining moment for unionism in Nigeria.
The statement concluded with the historic rallying cry of student activism: “Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta”—a declaration signaling readiness to defend democratic principles within the student community.
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