The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Monday demanded the immediate removal of the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, within 14 days over the prolonged non-payment of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances to students across tertiary institutions in the country.
The students’ body also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a full investigation into the handling of SIWES funds, citing alleged administrative failure, lack of transparency and possible mismanagement.
In a statement signed by the Assistant Secretary-General of NANS at the National Headquarters, Comrade Adejuwon Olatunji Emmanuel, the association expressed deep outrage over what it described as the persistent and unjustifiable failure of the ITF to resolve the non-payment of allowances owed to thousands of Nigerian students.
According to NANS, for several years, students who participated in the SIWES programme have been denied their statutory entitlements despite repeated complaints, petitions and engagements by students’ bodies and other relevant stakeholders.
The association said the situation has subjected affected students to severe financial hardship, with many struggling to cope with basic expenses during their industrial training periods, while also undermining the credibility of a programme created to promote skills acquisition, employability and national workforce development.
“We note with grave concern that under the leadership of the Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, there has been no transparent, comprehensive or credible explanation to Nigerian students regarding the status of these outstanding payments,” the statement said.
NANS added that the continued silence, poor communication and lack of accountability surrounding SIWES disbursements amounted to a clear administrative failure and a serious breach of public trust expected of a public institution.
While stating that it was not pronouncing guilt on any individual, the association said allegations of mismanagement and possible diversion of SIWES funds circulating among affected students were deeply disturbing and could not be ignored by responsible authorities.
It therefore demanded the immediate removal of the ITF boss, describing his continued stay in office as untenable and inimical to accountability, transparency and institutional credibility in the management of students’ welfare programmes.
The students’ body also issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to take decisive action on the matter and restore confidence in the administration of SIWES.
“Within fourteen days from the date of this statement, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, should either be removed from office by the appropriate authorities or honourably resign to allow for a transparent and unhindered investigation into the prolonged non-payment of SIWES allowances,” NANS said.
It warned that failure to act within the stipulated period would be interpreted as institutional indifference to the plight of Nigerian students and would compel the association to escalate its response through all available democratic means.
NANS further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene by ordering a comprehensive forensic audit of SIWES funds and ensuring that all outstanding allowances owed to students are paid without further delay.
“SIWES is not a privilege; it is a statutory entitlement. Any leadership that consistently fails to honour this obligation has failed its mandate,” the statement added.
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