The National Association of Nigerian Students has called for the removal of the head of Industrial Training Fund over the continued nonpayment of allowances to students enrolled in the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme, known as SIWES.
In a statement on Tuesday, NANS accused the ITF of failing to disburse stipends owed to thousands of students who completed industrial attachments, describing the delay as “unjustifiable” and harmful to students’ welfare.
The student body said repeated appeals to the agency had yielded no result, prompting its demand for the removal of the ITF’s director-general, whom it blamed for administrative lapses and poor accountability.
NANS warned that it could mobilize nationwide protests if the issue is not resolved promptly, urging the federal government to intervene and ensure immediate payment of the outstanding allowances.
The ITF did not immediately respond to requests for comment. SIWES is a federal program designed to provide practical industrial training for students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
