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Exactly On 21 December, 2017 I asked a question that was suppose to probe the minds of Lokoja Local Government Students and stakeholders alike “Where is NALLGS” on Facebook. The question was meant to whirlwind us all into a deep thought on the happenings and inactiveness bedeviling Lokoja students union, sadly it didn’t do much. Maybe because we have so gotten use to the docility of student activism and welfarism in Lokoja Local Government.
In this Era of ours where much attention is not given to a lone voice. Especially that of Youths and students. These categories of the society have really seen the need to come together to unionize for a better front in communities, villages and even across ethnic divides. On this matter, our leaders in the past saw the need to carve a platform for students to drive their issues before government and other relevant stakeholders and to also serve as training ground for future leadership at a Macro platform. In their wisdom, they created National Association of Lokoja Local Government Students (NALLGS) with local chapters in all tertiary institutions where there are Lokoja students in the world with the National body supervising/coordinating the activities of the local chapters which I was privileged to serve as Secretary 2008/2009 and President 2009/2010 – Kogi State University Chapter. On that platform I contested the President of National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS) KSU Chapter where I lost gallantly with just one vote. That election re-introduced elections back into NAKOSS KSU Chapter. My surgeon as an activist both in the youth council and the civil society sector where I work today.
Constitutionally and historically, tenure of executives are for one year and conventions are often scheduled for December of every year. Students across all institutions in Nigeria of Lokoja extractions return home after every section with the intention of convening and electing new leadership for their student union to pilot the affairs of students for the next academic year.
Today, reverse is the case for NALLGS as it is. There has been leaders that held on to power in NALLGS, did little or nothing to impact the lives of students and yet refuse to transit power. December 2017 depicted same situation. No landmark achievements and yet no mechanism was put in place to transit power. To the best of our knowledge, elections and consequent power transition is the hub of democracy and effective union. All other students body that I know of, have successfully transmitted power in a well organized convention where election was held and candidates emerged as executives. Ours will not be different in a negative light.
It is on this premises I want to call on all stakeholders of NALLGS, Grand Patron, Patron and all students of Lokoja home and abroad with the utmost interest on the foundation we have laid building NALLGS and impacting the lives of students to immediately reclaim NALLGS and put in place all necessary requirements to transit power and bring on board new executives according to the provisions of the constitution that will pilot the affairs of NALLGS according to the visions of the founding fathers. This should be done within the shortest time before students return back to their various institutions for the next academic year.
Our people have a saying that “never will a responsible elder sit and watch the child put stick into the eyes”.
This is a clarion call to reclaim back NALLGS.
– Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed
President NALLGS KSU Chapter 2009/2010 and Assistant Secretary National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter.
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