The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), on Wednesday, declared its unalloyed support for the Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State.
The students also passed vote of confidence on the governor and endorsed his candidature for second term, saying whoever touches the Governor will have Nigerian Students to contend with.
They described the decision to support the governor as ‘worthwhile, prompt and a necessity’ to sustain the tempo of steady progress and development in the State.
This is even as the governor said his administration holds the students in high esteem and will continue to make them significant players in his government’s inclusive and participatory governance.
He also seized the occasion to announce approval of bursary award to indigent students.
Speaking on behalf of his members, the National President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Comrade Olalere Benedict, said the endorsement of Oyetola was aimed at reciprocating his good gestures towards the welfare and wellbeing of the citizens, particularly the students in the State and Nigeria at large.
According to him, it is crystal clear that Oyetola has over the years been proactive in matters relating to youths and students just as he has also shown to the students’ community that he is a lovely father.
“This Endorsement and Honour bestowed on our Leader and Father For Second Term as Osun State Governor, are to seek for his support in remodeling and rebranding the Association and Students Structure in the State to meet up with the demands of the Polytechnic Students across Nigeria. Henceforth, whatever affects His Excellency affects us all in Nigeria. Whosoever touches His Excellency, touches over 20.1 million Polytechnic Students in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
“We are here today to celebrate a courageous leader who has demonstrated courage and passion in leadership, a leader that has shown that despite the wide gap of trust in leadership, we still see a leader who has chosen and demonstrated integrity in leadership.
“Many ask why Governor Adegboyega Oyetola credence of leadership award and the straight answer is that under his leadership education is secure and there is a brighter future for the student community in Osun State. He has proved that, he is demonstrating it and he can be trusted.
“We are all aware of Osun previous education policy that attracted controversy and nearly isolated Osun from all part of the country educationally. Despite all odds, he took courage to review the policy and ensured amendment of the Policy to be in conformity with the National Education Policy. Only few leaders in this current political space can do that.
“In most of the states that we are visiting, what we go there for is either industrial dispute resolution relating to NASUP, ASUP workers’ welfare,
rustication of student leaders, protests, among other negative political action. None of these has happened in close to three years of the Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
“You will recall that some staff of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, and Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, were sacked. Without protest or industrial action, they were reinstated by this same man called Adegboyega Oyetola.
“Early this year, this Governor presented two vehicles to NANS/JCC and NAOSS and very recently facilitated the same to all the state-owned tertiary instituions in the State. It is not about the value, it is about the spirit behind is and intention. We know some states that are more financially bouyant than Osun and are not doing this.
“We are tracking and monitoring the State revenue and performances across the country. Despite the meager resources of the State, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is paying workers’ salaries as and when due, constructing flyover, renovating Community Health Centres and still feeding 30, 000 less privileged in the States
“It can only take a leader with exceptional financial ingenuity to successfully do that.
“With this performance, Oyetola is indeed a model in prudence, accountability and responsible leadership and we are convinced that if Oyetola is elected for a second term, Osun Education future is guaranteed.
“As stakeholders in Nigeria’s political space, we can’t stand on the fence in this critical moment in Osun and that is why we are standing for the best man to continue in office,” the Students’ leader said.
Receiving the award at the Executive Council Lounge, Governor’s office, State Government Secretariat, Abere, Oyetola applauded the students for the recognition given to his Administration on the modest achievements made since assumption of office.
He said his Administration has been implementing conscious and deliberate inclusive policies to cultivate the youths to earn their place in governance as leaders of tomorrow.
Oyetola, who described education as the bedrock of socioeconomic development of any society, noted that the education sector under his watch has witnessed tremendous achievements in the last three years.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Benedict Alabi, said education has been the driver of the Administration’s Development Agenda and the sustainable development envisaged for the people, hence the resolution to provide adequate, qualitative, equitable, affordable and functional education for all. education and achieve sustainable development.
“Our government holds students in high esteem and we will always do everything in our powers to prioritise your interests and make you significant players in our inclusive and participatory governance.
“Recently, we approved payment of bursary to indigent students in our tertiary institutions to assist them. So very soon, beneficiaries will begin to receive their alerts. We have been consistent in responding to emergencies affecting the students of the State in any part of the country.
“In the 2022 Appropriation Bill recently presented before the State House of Assembly, Education has the highest allocation of over N26 Billion equivalent to 21 percent of the total budget of N129 Billion up from 18 per cent in the 2021 Appropriation Act.
“We have instituted the Youth Document Policy with 4Es – Youth Education, Youth Entrepreneurship, Youth Empowerment and Youth Engagement. It is a conscious and deliberate inclusive policy to cultivate our youths to earn their place in governance as leaders of tomorrow, “ the governor said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant on Students Affairs and Social Mobilisation, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji, said the students resolved to honour the governor as part of efforts to reciprocate his good works.
He lauded the Administration of Oyetola for always being passionate about people’s welfare and wellbeing.
