Follow Us on Google
The President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Olushola Oladoja, has cautioned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against embarking on a fresh strike as such would gravely disrupt the nation’s education system.
In a statement signed by National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Comrade Samson Adeyemi and issued yesterday, Oladoja also charged the Federal Government to urgently attend to ASUU’s demands to avert the looming strike.
The NANS president said ASUU’s recent threat to embark on a fresh nationwide strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government, while legitimate, must be shelved in the interest of Nigerian students, who are the real victims.
The statement reads, “NANS recognises the legitimate grievances raised by ASUU, which include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, outstanding salary arrears, withheld promotions, and the welfare of retired lecturers.
“While these demands are germane, NANS believes that the path of dialogue must not be abandoned, as any industrial action will inflict irreparable damage on Nigerian students who are always at the receiving end.
Other News
“It is important to state that one of the greatest achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is the establishment of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has already started easing access to higher education, and the maintenance of an uninterrupted academic calendar for over two years.
“These gains must be protected at all costs. The Federal Government must, therefore, do everything humanly possible to sustain this progress by attending to ASUU’s demands with all sense of urgency and sincerity.
“On the other hand, ASUU must also demonstrate patriotism by jettisoning its planned strike and sustaining dialogue with the government. Nigerian students cannot afford another round of avoidable disruption to their academic pursuit.”
Oladoja called on both the Federal Government and ASUU to prioritise the future of Nigerian students by resolving all pending issues through genuine dialogue to safeguard the stability of the nation’s tertiary education system.
