The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to find a resolution to their ongoing issues to avoid disruptions in the academic calendar.
Speaking at a news briefing in Akure, NANS Senate President Mr. Henry Okunomo highlighted the urgent need for both parties to reach common ground. This comes in response to ASUU’s recent three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government regarding unresolved demands.
Mr. Okunomo emphasized the importance of immediate and decisive government action to avert any potential strikes that could disrupt the educational sector. He urged President Bola Tinubu to allocate adequate resources to education, improve infrastructure, provide necessary teaching aids, and ensure timely payment of salaries and benefits to lecturers.
“The recurring disruptions caused by strikes in our universities have profound and far-reaching consequences on the educational journey of countless students,” Mr. Okunomo stated. He called for a continuous platform for dialogue among the government, university administrators, and lecturers to address grievances before they escalate.
“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 urgency to prevent the devastating impact of another strike,” he said. Mr. Okunomo also appealed to lecturers to embrace dialogue and make necessary concessions to avoid a collapse of the education system.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Okunomo stressed that it would be disastrous for universities to shut down amid the country’s ongoing economic hardships due to industrial action by lecturers.
