The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency dissolve his cabinet with the aim of injecting the much needed fresh ideas into his government.

While felicitating with the President on his return from the United Kingdom after a prolonged medical vacation, NANS in a statement issuedon Sundayin Abuja by the President, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, expressed the view that against the background of the numerous challenges facing the nation, Buhari should use the opportunity of his return to quickly introduce a new sense of vigour into his administration. This, according to NAN, should be done by reshuffling and “repositioning his cabinet for effectiveness and efficiency by bringing on board, cerebral, competent, vibrant, contemporary and dynamic young people to herald and stimulate a whole new level of impetus and vibrancy in the administration of the ailing economy.”

NANS said that Nigerian students stood with the President throughout the difficult times and would continue to be with him in prayers for the sustenance of his health. It prayed for more wisdom, knowledge; understanding and energy to enable him provide the necessary leadership to move the nation forward.

NANS condemned, in strong terms, the unfortunate development in the North East that led to the untimely and brutal murder of some lecturers of the University of Maiduguri and others on account of what it viewed as “the gross insensitivity of the Minister of State for Petroleum, who chose to embark on a dangerous exploration exercise in the Lake Chad region without consideration for the volatility of the region.” It called for “the immediate parameter fencing of the university to protect the inhabitants.”

The association also called on Buhari to urgently wade into the prevailing indefinite strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to ensure that Nigerian students returns to school at the earliest convenience.

NANS used the opportunity to draw Buhari’s attention to “the fact that the critical challenge of the Nigerian universities and Nigerian students is obviously and regrettably missing in the recently launched Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).”

It said that, going forward, Nigerian students and the youth in general should be deliberately included in the decision-making process on issues that concern them to enable them actively participate and contribute to the development efforts of the nation.