Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has been forced into an embarrassing public clarification after a viral Facebook post by its president created the impression that the association had struck a deal with the National Youth Service Corps to make the payment of N200 annual dues a condition for mobilisation. In a press release issued on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, NANS President Akinteye Babatunde Afeez firmly denied any agreement with the NYSC, insisting that his earlier comments were taken out of context and that the association had never approached the scheme for any Memorandum of Understanding on the collection of capitation dues.
The controversy erupted after a Facebook post by Afeez, which was subsequently picked up by Punch NG, suggested that NANS was considering a system under which students would be required to pay an annual N200 due and that the payment might be linked to NYSC mobilisation. The post sparked widespread outrage among students and prospective corps members, who viewed the proposal as an unfair burden on already struggling young Nigerians. The backlash was swift and unrelenting, forcing both NANS and the NYSC to issue rapid clarifications.
The NYSC moved first. In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the scheme's Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, categorically denied any agreement with NANS on the collection of any levy. "The NYSC wishes to state unequivocally that it has not, at any time, discussed, agreed to, or entered into any Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of Nigerian Students regarding the collection of any levy from students in connection with mobilisation for national service," Embu declared. The NYSC explained that its mobilisation process is conducted through established official channels involving the management of the scheme and the Heads of Corps Producing Institutions, which provide information on their graduates for mobilisation. The scheme advised prospective corps members and students to disregard any information suggesting that payment of a levy to NANS or any other student association was required for NYSC mobilisation.
But NANS was not about to let the controversy fester. In a detailed press release issued on August 12, Afeez sought to set the record straight. He insisted that his position was "not born out of greed or a desire to burden or overstretch students" but was made within the purview and provisions of the NANS Constitution. He explained that every student pays Student Union dues in their respective campuses without raising eyebrows, and that NANS, as the apex student body with "a wider range, more demanding and more enormous responsibilities," has the constitutional mandate to collect Capitation dues from students for its operational efficiency.
The NANS president, however, conceded that the impression created by the publication was the result of misinformation arising from the publication by Punch NG of a random Facebook discussion. "Going forward, it is imperative to set the record straight: at no time has NANS announced any partnership with the NYSC for the collection of Capitation dues," Afeez stated. He added that NANS is an organisation that can propose partnerships to any government agency or institution, but it is left for the agency or institution to either accept or reject such a proposal. "For the avoidance of doubt, NANS has never approached the NYSC for any Memorandum of Understanding, collaboration or partnership over the collection of its Capitation dues," he declared.
The clarification, however, raises more questions than it answers. If NANS has never approached the NYSC, why did Afeez's Facebook post suggest otherwise? And why did he publicly state that the association was considering linking the payment of dues to NYSC mobilisation? The president's explanation that the post was an "informal discussion" that was subsequently "misinterpreted" has done little to calm the waters. Many observers have questioned why a sitting NANS president would make such a statement on a public platform if it was not intended to be taken seriously.
The controversy has also exposed the financial struggles of Nigeria's apex student body. Afeez revealed that NANS has been struggling to collect capitation dues from student union governments, with between 80 and 90 per cent of student unions allegedly no longer in control of their dues. The association, he said, has been financially stretched and unable to represent students as effectively as it should. This admission has sparked a fresh debate about the financial management of student bodies and the need for greater transparency and accountability.
The NANS president assured students and stakeholders that when the time is right, and after the NANS National Headquarters has put all adequate measures in place, the association will officially meet and make public the agency or agencies with which it will partner for the collection of the Capitation dues. Until then, he urged members of the public, Nigerian students and all relevant stakeholders to disregard any narrative suggesting that NANS has entered into an agreement, partnership or collaboration with the NYSC for the collection of Capitation dues from students.
But the damage may already be done. The controversy has undermined public confidence in the leadership of NANS and raised questions about the association's commitment to transparency. The Senate Public Accounts Committee has reportedly taken note of the development and is said to be planning to invite the leadership of NANS to explain the circumstances surrounding the proposed levy. The committee is also investigating allegations that some student union leaders have been diverting capitation funds meant for NANS, a development that has further complicated the association's financial challenges.
For the thousands of Nigerian students who were caught in the crossfire of this controversy, the episode has been a stark reminder of the importance of verifying information before acting on it. The NYSC has advised students to rely only on official information regarding mobilisation requirements and procedures. NANS, for its part, has pledged to remain committed to transparency, quality representation and the protection of the interests of Nigerian students. Whether the association can rebuild the trust that has been eroded by this episode remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the N200 levy that never existed has already cost NANS a great deal of credibility.
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