By Sandra Kenneth
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has indicated that payment of a proposed ₦200 annual membership fee may soon become a mandatory requirement for prospective corps members seeking mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde, disclosed the plan in statement posts and video updates shared on social media, outlining the apex student body’s financial strategy and proposed changes to its dues collection framework.
According to Babatunde, NANS intends to collaborate directly with NYSC leadership to tie clearance receipts to the mobilization process.
“We will be working with NYSC, and one of the criteria to be mobilised for camp is a NANS dues receipt,” Babatunde stated.
Direct Collection Strategy
Addressing concerns over student finances, the NANS President emphasized that the ₦200 annual fee is designed to be affordable while ensuring financial autonomy for the organization.
“This is not an avenue to stress the students further, because the fee is as low as ₦200 per student in a year,” Babatunde explained. “We are considering moving away from relying on capitation through Student Union Governments (SUGs) and institutional management to establish a platform where we can collect dues directly from students.”
He revealed that funds raised through the direct-payment portal would be distributed across various NANS organs, including zonal structures, state chapters, and affiliated student organizations.
Explaining the rationale behind the shift, Babatunde alleged that between 80% and 90% of tertiary institution Student Union Governments no longer retain control over their financial dues. He claimed several school managements withhold or release only fractions of collected funds to local unions, thereby crippling student advocacy at both local and national levels.
Citing the University of Benin as an example, Babatunde alleged that institution management restricted the student union’s access to funds following their opposition to a school fee hike.
“One of the ways to cripple the organisation is to make it lack funds,” he said. “How do you want leaders to run to politicians or government officials for support, and then expect them to stand and challenge those same agencies when student rights are violated?”
Babatunde noted that NANS continues to process thousands of student complaints—ranging from academic disputes to emergency interventions and campus safety issues—without a steady funding mechanism.
He maintained that establishing direct financial support from the student population is essential for NANS to remain an independent, effective advocacy body for Nigerian students nationwide.
The organization plans to propose legislative amendments to its constitution to provide legal backing for the new collection framework before formalizing agreements with relevant government agencies.
