President of the National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU), Monday Wiska, has vowed to employ all legal possibilities to retrieve the association’s funds allegedly embezzled by past leaders of the body.
He said the association which he now heads as the newly elected president will not leave any stone unturned to bring all the persons who are in complicit with the stolen funds to justice.
In a press conference with journalists in Asaba, Wiska, accompanied by some members of his executive council drawn from different universities, said all the association’s properties that are with the alleged thieves would be retrieved unfailingly.
He told journalists that in the course of his tour of higher institutions, he was inundated with challenges with issues that have continued to undermine and divide the association.
He said there were external forces that are working to undermine the association who mobilise and impersonate the association with non-students in a bid to cover their dirty tracks.
The president – elect, who did not specifically mention those alleged thieves, warned that the era of trading with the name of students and obtaining funds from the state government and diverting same was over.
He said going forward, such ungodly acts would no longer be allowed and those involved in the past should be ready to account for the said funds with relevant security and financial crimes agencies.
According to him: “We are not unaware of the N25million release annually for students town hall meetings through the office of the SSA to the governor on students affairs that usually get diverted for personal use. I want to assure that every money received in the name of Delta state students will be accounted for.
“We want to also assure that every money accruing to students from dues at source will be judiciously utilized to advance the course and welfare of Delta state students and shall be properly accounted for to engender transparency of the association. Those found culpable for using dues meant for Delta state students to enrich themselves illegally will be brought to book and he will account for the funds.
He also noted that every property belonging to the association in the custody of anyone shall be retrieved for the service of Delta state students.
For the incoming administration of Delta state which will be inaugurated on May 29 2023, Wiska advised the governor to avoid appointing multiple aides to manage students affairs, noting the current division, infighting and crisis rocking the students community was occasioned by multiple persons appointed to man students affairs.
He also said the incoming governor should prioritise the downward review of school fees across Delta state higher institutions to reduce the burden of sourcing for fees from parents.
He noted that the percentage of students dropping out of schools is high due to inability to fund the requirements of higher institutions.
While calling for downward review of school fees, he advocated for upward review of bursary and scholarships within the state to mitigate the current economic challenges in Nigeria.
He also called for the expansion of the scholarship program of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to accommodate students on a yearly.
Wiska, while congratulating the incoming governor who will be sworn in on May 29, 2023, he vowed to work with his government to ensure good governance and welfare of all Deltans.
