The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS Southwest Zone D, has cautioned its executive members and appointed officers against issuing unauthorised press releases or public statements in the name of the zonal body.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by the zone’s Coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, popularly known as Billioncodes.
According to the directive, no individual officer, irrespective of position or portfolio, is authorised to present personal views as the official position of the entire zonal organisation without the required approval.
Adeyemo said officers were expected to remain proactive in addressing issues affecting students but stressed that public interventions must follow established internal procedures.
The directive is particularly applicable to communications involving government agencies, tertiary institution authorities, security organisations, protests, public ultimatums and other sensitive issues capable of committing the entire zone to a particular course of action.
The coordinator warned that unauthorised statements could create institutional disputes, misrepresent the collective position of students and damage the credibility of the organisation.
“Henceforth, any statement intended to carry the name, authority or official position of NANS Southwest Zone D must receive appropriate clearance from the Office of the Coordinator or be issued pursuant to a collective decision of the zonal leadership,” he said.
The directive does not completely prohibit officers from communicating publicly about matters within their portfolios.
Designated directors and officers may still issue operational updates relating strictly to their responsibilities, provided such communications are not portrayed as the official position of the entire zone without a mandate.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of an increasingly active public role by NANS Southwest under Adeyemo’s leadership.
In recent months, the zone has intervened in disputes involving university managements, student suspensions, NYSC mobilisation challenges and other welfare matters.
In September, the organisation announced a seven-day audit of NYSC mobilisation problems affecting graduates across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.
It also issued a seven-day ultimatum to Osun State University over the expulsion of 18 Theatre Arts students, threatening peaceful and lawful mass action if the matter was not reviewed.
In June, NANS Southwest similarly threatened action over the suspension of student leaders at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, while calling for transparency and due process in handling the allegations against them.
The zone has also engaged security authorities on student-related concerns, including an earlier dispute involving alleged misconduct by some Nigerian Army personnel in Osogbo.
Adeyemo said the latest directive was not intended to suppress initiative or prevent officers from speaking on issues within their mandates.
Instead, he said it was designed to promote discipline, coordination, collective responsibility and accurate representation of students across the Southwest.
The leadership subsequently directed all officers to comply with the communication protocol going forward.
