The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) seven-day notice to resolve their ongoing impasse and avert a strike that will undermine the academic calendar of the nation.
NANS President Olushola Oladoja indicated serious concern in a Thursday statement over rising tension between the two parties, warning that disruption of any academic activity would be unacceptable to students.
Oladoja explained that Nigeria’s education sector had experienced two uninterrupted academic years under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration a record that has not been broken since the return of democracy in 1999. He lamented, however, that recent ASUU industrial action now threatens such achievements.
It is in the same spirit that NANS calls on both the Federal Government’s negotiation team and ASUU to reach a lasting solution within seven days. Nigerian students, many of whom are already studying on education loans, cannot afford another disruption to their academic calendar,” Oladoja added.
He commended President Tinubu’s education reforms, citing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, abolition of tertiary unions from IPPIS, cancellation of the 40% IGR remittance policy, and focused TETFund intervention as clear pointers to the government’s interest in the education and welfare of students.
These aside, Oladoja blamed poor communication and the failure to implement agreements for the renewed crisis.
He said NANS’ reports were that ASUU failed to appear at a government meeting aimed at addressing its grievances over procedural matters but assured that both parties are ready to reconvene.
“NANS urges the government to reconvene the meeting forthwith to close this communication gap,” he called for.
Oladoja also summoned President Tinubu to intervene in the matter personally, warning that delay would undermine the stability and goodwill that had only just been achieved within the education sector.
