The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the planned introduction of the National Learner Identification Number (LIN) by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

NANS, the apex and umbrella body representing millions of Nigerian students at home and in the diaspora, said its leadership must be actively involved and carried along in the formulation of policies affecting students.

In a statement by the NANS President, Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the association said any policy introduced for Nigerian students without its involvement was unacceptable.

“Anything done for Nigerian students without NANS is outrightly against us,” Afeez said.

He said although NANS recognised the importance of maintaining an accurate database and its effectiveness within the Nigerian education system, the association strongly opposed the introduction and implementation of the National Learner Identification Number.

“While we acknowledge the importance of an accurate database and its effectiveness within the Nigerian education system, we reject in totality and condemn vehemently the introduction and implementation of the National Learner Identification Number,” he said.

According to him, there was no justification for imposing another identification number on Nigerian students when the National Identification Number (NIN) already exists as the nationally recognised means of identification for citizens.

NANS therefore called for greater consultation with the student body on policies and initiatives that directly affect Nigerian students.

“It is important to state that Nigerian students already have the National Identification Number (NIN). The introduction of another identification number specifically for learners is therefore unnecessary and amounts to an avoidable duplication of identification systems. Rather than creating another identification system, government agencies should strengthen and maximise the existing national identification system where necessary.

“To be unequivocally clear, NANS condemns in totality the introduction of the National Learner Identification Number and rejects it outright. It is unacceptable for a policy with far-reaching implications for millions of Nigerian students to be introduced without carrying the students along, particularly when there is already an existing national identification system.

“Nigerian students are not mere beneficiaries of the education system; we are critical stakeholders in its development and must be carried along in every policy formulation and implementation that directly affects our academic lives, identity, records, welfare, and future.

“NOA must come to terms with the limits of its mandate and refrain from assuming responsibilities that do not belong to it.

“It is worrisome that an agency established to promote effective communication between government and citizens, provide feedback, and encourage citizens’ participation in matters affecting their welfare would instead appear to be championing a policy that imposes an additional stress on Nigerian students.

“NOA is an agency established to promote effective communication between government and citizens, provide feedback, and encourage citizens’ participation in matters affecting their welfare, and not an agency to merely act as a publicity channel for government policies or assume the responsibility of imposing new identification system on Nigerian students.

“If the National Orientation Agency genuinely seeks to live up to its mandate, it must return to the core responsibility for which it was established and desist from overreaching its mandate. The agency should not be seen as a vehicle for imposing policies on Nigerian students without regard to existing systems or the views of those directly affected.

“Therefore, we call on the Federal Government to immediately halt the introduction and further implementation of the National Learner Identification Number. NANS maintains that there is no need for an additional identification number when the National Identification Number (NIN) already serves as a unique means of identification.

“NANS, as the apex student representative body, will continue to defend the interests, rights, and welfare of Nigerian students and will not accept the imposition of unnecessary policies that place additional burdens on students or duplicate existing national systems.” (The Nation)