By Peter Omopo
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has disowned a publication calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr Zach Adedeji, from office.
The association also denied authoring a call for an investigation into an alleged $279 million transfer from the Frontier Exploration Fund, describing the publication as unauthorised and unrelated to its official position.
In a statement signed by the NANS President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, on Wednesday, the association said it does not base its positions on rumours or unverified claims.
NANS described itself as an intellectual organisation whose responsibilities extend beyond student welfare to participation in national discourse, policy formulation and monitoring the activities of government agencies and institutions.
The association said any position it takes on national issues would be based on verifiable facts and defended accordingly.
NANS further stated that it had monitored the activities of the Nigeria Revenue Service and expressed support for Adedeji, describing him as “a seasoned accountant who has proven to be a brilliant public servant and one of the finest brains in the country.”
The student body also highlighted the revenue performance of the NRS under Adedeji, stating that the agency recorded collections exceeding ₦21.7 trillion in 2024 and ₦28.7 trillion by the end of 2025.
“Hence, as a body committed to Nigeria’s economic growth, we have no reason to call for his removal. Dr Zach Adedeji has, no doubt, redefined the country’s Revenue Service,” NANS said.
The association urged members of the public to disregard the publication calling for Adedeji’s removal, stressing that it neither originated from NANS nor represented its position.
NANS also called on media organisations to uphold professional standards by conducting proper verification and fact finding before attributing statements or positions to the association.
The student body reaffirmed its commitment to engaging national issues based on facts while contributing to discussions on policies and institutions affecting Nigeria’s development.
