THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, CAMPUS MONITORING COMMITTEE LAGOS, LED BY THE CHAIRMAN, COMRADE IFEOLUWA SONOIKI PAID A COURTESY VISIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE SECURITY (DSS) LAGOS STATE COMMAND, ON TUESDAY, THE 5TH OF APRIL, 2022.

In attendance at the Department of State Security (DSS) office was the Asst. Director of operations and intelligence Mr Shehu Shehu, (PSC, MNI), the operation officer Mr Femi Adebisi, the officer in charge of student affairs, Mr Toba, and two other staff.

Mr Toba introduced the staff of the agency to the NAUS Chairman and his team, after which the Vice-Chairman Comrade David Paul Olubode introduced the student leaders present at the office.

After the introduction, the Chairman expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Asst. Director and staff members of DSS for the success of the election held last month that produced the Chairman which had their presence, he mentioned that the reason for the courtesy visit was for NAUS CMC Lagos to have a cordial relationship with the agency, and build a very strong one which will have a great impact on the students at large in the state.

During the discussion, the Vice-Chairman commented on the harassment of students by officials of other agencies such as the police, EFCC, etc.


The Treasurer, Comrade Victory Eloho, said that the union body would appreciate it if the agency can have an open-door policy that would enable them to reach out whenever it is needed, she also informed Mr Shehu that the union body would be holding a security summit on a soon to be announced date seeking the support of the agency to come and train most the girl child on how to defend themselves when security issues arise.


In his response to the comment made by Comrade David, the Asst. Director Mr Shehu Shehu (PSC, MNI) said that students must ensure they act within the law at all times and they must be responsible, and said the agency is committed to the safety of lives, in his response to Ms Eloho, he said the student body should let the DSS know when they plan to hold the summit and where they can come in, he also told her that the agency is operating on an open-door policy as their quick response to the association’s courtesy visit request is an example, and mentioned that they are always available when called upon by the student union body.

The Vice President NAUS Southwest, Comrade Oladimeji Adesoji (SOJ) raised an issue on the arrest of students across the zone by the EFCC, he said the officials of the anti-graft agency make arrests of students without warrants by the court, and evidence showing they are guilty, saying that the student leaders are not always carried along when these arrests are about to be made and said if care is not taken the young people would call for the scrapping of the agency through protest.

He also mentioned how the conspiracy theory of the government has been going around to privatize the education sector as public universities are always been underfunded by the federal government and sort the assistance of the Asst. Director to collaborate with his colleagues in other states to advise the government on the negative impact the ASUU strike is having on students, security-wise.

In his response, Mr Shehu said that there is no such conspiracy, he also mentioned that the current crisis is a phase and it would pass, as we are not new to things like these, he said that the budget of the government is not for the education sector alone as other unions in other sectors have demands for proper funding.


In his response to the arrest issue made by the EFCC the VP raised, Mr Shehu mentioned that the EFCC has the power to make an arrest, he said the anti-graft agency and others can pick people for questioning as arrests are not just made without gathering intelligence, mentioning that the police, DSS, EFCC has powers but the police force is empowered by law to arrest for financial, drug, and other crimes committed by citizens and warrants are not always needed, saying that warrants cannot be needed when a robbery crime has been committed.


Mr Shehu said that when arrests are been made and the student leaders are kept in the loop, there is room for compromise which would affect the investigation of the agencies, and gives room for criminals to escape.


Finally, The Asst. Director reiterated that the agency would always be ready to listen to what the Chairman has to say when called upon anytime.


The NAUS CMC Lagos Chairman appreciated the Asst. Director and his team for giving them an audience and said that the union body would ensure strong collaboration with the agency.The NAUS CMC Lagos Chairman came in the company of the Vice-Chairman David Paul Olubode, the Treasurer Comrade Victory Eloho, Financial Secretary Comrade Specter Oluwasegun, Director of Special Duties, Tinubu King Ademola, The Special Asst. to the Chairman on Media Oyelakin Emmanuel, The Vice President NAUS Southwest Comrade Oladimeji Adesoji (SOJ), Comrade Giwa Temitope former NANS General Secretary Zone D (Southwest) and Comrade White from LASU.

Signed: *Comrade Ifeoluwa Sonoiki*
*Chairman, National Association of University Students, Campus Monitoring Committee, Lagos*


*Oyelakin Emmanuel Oluwaseyi*
*Special Asst. to the Chairman on Media*