The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has raised concerns over the alleged decision by the management of the Federal University Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, to constitute the institution’s Student Representative Council (SRC) through appointments instead of a democratic electoral process.
The development, which has generated reactions within the student community, has prompted the national student body to call for an immediate reversal of the reported move, insisting that student representation must be determined through elections.
In a statement signed by the NANS Vice President for Inter-Campus Affairs, Tabitha Babayo, the association described the alleged appointment process as inconsistent with democratic principles and a violation of students’ constitutional right to freely elect their representatives.
According to NANS, the Student Representative Council derives its legitimacy from the mandate of the student electorate, adding that any departure from a transparent electoral process could weaken students’ confidence in campus governance.
The association warned that appointing student representatives rather than allowing them to emerge through elections could undermine democratic values, silence students’ voices, and create avoidable tension within the university community.
NANS further stated that it would resist what it described as the institutionalisation of anti-democratic practices in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. It called on the management of the Federal University Kashere to suspend any process aimed at appointing members of the SRC and instead commence preparations for a free, fair and credible election in line with established procedures.
Beyond its appeal to the university authorities, the association called on its national leadership, the NANS Zone E Coordinator, security agencies, the Student Affairs Division of the Federal University Kashere, the Gombe State Government, the Federal Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders to intervene to safeguard students’ democratic rights.
Reaffirming its commitment to promoting democratic governance on campuses, NANS said it would continue to pursue lawful and constitutional means to protect students’ interests and ensure that student leadership remains a product of the ballot.
The association urged the Federal University Kashere management to reconsider the reported decision, maintaining that the credibility of student representation depends on an electoral process that reflects the will of the students.
As of the time of this report, the management of the Federal University Kashere had not publicly responded to the allegations or issued an official statement on the matter.