By Seyi Babalola
The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has urged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to establish common ground to avoid disruptions in the academic calendar.
NANS Senate President Henry Okunomo made the disclosure at a news briefing on Sunday in Akure.
Recall that ASUU gave a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government about several pending demands.
According to Okunomo, the group is urging the Federal Government to take prompt and decisive measures to avoid disruption in the educational sector by averting a strike.
He also encouraged President Bola Tinubu to commit appropriate resources to the educational sector to develop facilities, offer required instructional aids, and guarantee that professors’ wages and benefits are paid on time.
He stated that providing a constant platform for conversation between the government, university administration, and professors to resolve issues before they escalate was critical to preventing academic disruption.
“We are all acutely aware of the recurring disruptions caused by strikes in our universities.
“These strikes, often as a result of unresolved issues between university lecturers and the government, have profound and far-reaching consequences on the educational journey of countless students.
“It is with a heavy heart and a determined spirit that I address this pressing issue today, appealing to the government to take immediate and effective steps to prevent our lecturers from resorting to another strike.
“We, the students, are the primary stakeholders in this situation. Our voices, hopes, and futures hang in the balance.
“We are counting on the government to act decisively and with a sense of urgency to prevent the devastating impact of another strike.
“We appeal to our lecturers to also embrace dialogue and shift ground where necessary to avoid collapse of the education system,” he said.