ASUU Strike: NANS Threaten Nationwide Protest

University students under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), have given the Federal Government and ASUU a 14-day ultimatum to reopen universities or risk a mass protest.

The NANS, after a virtual meeting held in Enugu, reached a communique that students across the country will embark on a protest if the FG fails to meet up with the demands of the ASUU.

The protest which is targeted to have a major impact on the country’s economy will be held across the country and tagged #ENDASUUSTRIKE and involve all University students nationwide.

Part of the communique that was reached at the virtual meeting goes as thus: ” NANS declares the necessity of minimum of two academic session school fees waiver for Nigerian students in both state and federal institutions in the spirit of COVID-19 palliative to ameliorate the economic effects of the lockdown occasioned by the global pandemic”.

They also said, the FG must allocate 26% of its annual budget into the education sector; a UNESCO standard budget allocation for the education sector in any country.

Furthermore,the group said, the ASUU strike is a heinous crime committed against the Nigerian Students, as they, the FG and ASUU staff are not affected, since their salaries, emoluments and allowances are not affected.

They said, the strike has delayed a lot of activities from among students, as the time of graduation of many students have been affected and the compulsory NYSC programme age limit will be affected, school accomodation fees are incurred, job age limits are exceeded. These, thereby, make students to be at the receiving end.

Students from different varsities led by Salaudeen Lukman from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the chairman of the meeting, across the country signed the communique. Others that signed include: of whom are: Ogunsanya Rasheed, JCC Chairman, Lagos; Adai Pius, SUG President, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta among others.