In a bold move, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has taken a stand against corruption by demanding the immediate dismissal of the Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr. Mathew Adepoju, and the Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Dr. P.O Adebola. The student body emphasized the need for President Bola Tinubu to take swift action to remove these officials from their positions in order to set a precedent for others.
A press release signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Oladimeji Uthman, was issued to the media on Wednesday, outlining the grievances and reasons behind NANS’ call for the sack of the accused heads of NSRDA and CRIN. The statement underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in public office and the management of government agencies.
Referencing a letter dated September 30, 2024, which raised concerns about allegations of corruption within the two agencies, NANS highlighted discrepancies in project execution and budget allocation that were reportedly incongruent with the core mandates of NSRDA and CRIN. Despite efforts to engage in dialogue with the accused officials for clarifications, NANS expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of cooperation and transparency.
As a result of these unresolved issues, NANS announced its decision to mobilize students nationwide for a peaceful demonstration aimed at demanding the immediate dismissal, arrest, and prosecution of the implicated agency managers. The student body emphasized that their proposed National Mass Action aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda and serves as a message that misconduct in public office will not be tolerated.
The scheduled National Mass Action is slated to take place between December 2nd and 3rd, 2024, at the respective agencies of NSRDA and CRIN. The Clerk of the Senate reiterated the commitment of NANS to promoting accountability and integrity in public service, sending a clear signal that actions contrary to the public trust will face consequences.
