The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order an urgent probe into the prolonged delay in the payment of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
The demand was contained in a statement signed by Comr. Adejuwon Olatunji Emmanuel, Assistant Secretary General of NANS National Headquarters, and made available to journalists on Tuesday.
NANS said thousands of students across tertiary institutions nationwide who participated in the SIWES programme over several years were yet to receive their statutory allowances, despite repeated complaints and petitions.
The association described the situation as unacceptable, noting that the delays have subjected students to hardship and undermined the credibility of a programme established to support skills acquisition and youth development.
NANS criticised the ITF leadership under its Director-General, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, over what it described as poor communication and lack of transparency regarding the status of outstanding payments.
According to the student body, the silence surrounding SIWES disbursements has raised serious concerns about accountability and administrative efficiency within the agency.
While stating that it was not pre-empting the outcome of any investigation, NANS said allegations of fund mismanagement circulating among affected students warranted urgent clarification.
The association called on President Tinubu to direct a comprehensive audit of SIWES funds and, where necessary, review the leadership of the ITF to allow for an unhindered investigation.
It stressed that SIWES allowances are statutory entitlements, not privileges, warning that Nigerian students should not continue to suffer due to administrative failures.
The NANS leadership said it would pursue the matter through all lawful means until all affected students are paid in full.
