Date: 2016-12-12

National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) national headquarters yesterday threatened a showdown with management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, demanding the immediate withdrawal of men of the Nigerian Army from the institution.

Led by the Vice President, Comrade, Dosunmu Kamal Ishola, NAKSS gave the note at the Nigeria Union of Journalists press centre in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, adding that the management of the institution have until the last working day of the year to disengage the soldiers.

They also declared a state of emergency on the educational sector of Kwara State with a view to bringing instructors from primary to tertiary up to date in line with 21st century dictate.

According to Ishola, "We expect an immediate withdrawer of the men of the Nigerian Army, who are nothing but an agent of oppression and intimidation. They have turned the campuses of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin to a warlike zone with the way they have comported themselves.

"Not even in the Boko Haram ravaged North east do soldiers have the kind of powers of molestation, dehumanisation and open display in the campus," he said, adding that their continued presence was Illegal and uncivil.

The union also called for unconditional reinstatement of the expelled Welfare Secretary of the institution's Student Union Government, Comrade Imam-Murtador Olanrewaju adding that the management should henceforth hands off activities of the students’ leadership.

NAKSS appealed to the Kwara State Government to pay the 14 months salary arrears owed lecturers of the State College of Education in Oro and outstanding bursary to indigent students of the state since 2012.

The union stressed that Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed on July 14, promised to ensure the payment of outstanding bursaries once the revenue of the state improves.

They claimed federal allocation to the state has been on a steady increase ever since but six months down the line, the state government is yet to make good its pledge.

"We expect the immediate commencement of payment of outstanding bursary claims by indigent students and institution of a credible scholarship scheme to be manned and managed by eminent nonpartisan Kwaran, on or before the last working day of 2016," Ishola stated.

The union also urged the state government to make premium welfare of its workforce adding that students and youths are the worst hit by the present economic recession in the country.

It further solicited the support and understanding of well-meaning Kwarans, security agencies and traditional rulers.