NANS urges FG, ASUU to reach consensus, avoid disruption of academic calendar
By Sodiq Adelakun
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve their differences and prevent a strike that could disrupt the academic calendar.
NANS Senate President, Henry Okunomo, made the plea on Sunday in Akure, urging the federal government to take immediate action to address the issues leading to the potential strike.
Okunomo emphasised the importance of finding common ground to avoid another disruption in the educational sector, which would negatively impact students.
He stressed that students have suffered enough from previous strikes and urged both parties to prioritise their interests.
The appeal comes as ASUU has threatened to embark on a strike over the federal government’s failure to meet its demands, including improved funding and working conditions.
“We are counting on the government to act decisively and with a sense of urgency to prevent the devastating impact of another strike,” said Mr Okunomo.
“We appeal to our lecturers to also embrace dialogue and shift ground where necessary to avoid collapse of the education system,” he added.
ASUU had issued a three-week ultimatum to the federal government over some outstanding demands.
Mr Okunomo urged President Bola Tinubu to allocate sufficient resources to the educational sector to improve infrastructure, provide necessary teaching aids, and ensure timely payment of salaries and benefits to lecturers.
He said establishing a continuous platform for dialogue between the government, university administrators and lecturers to address grievances before escalation was important to prevent academic disruption.
“We are all acutely aware of the recurring disruptions caused by strikes in our universities.
“These strikes, often due to unresolved issues between university lecturers and the government, have profound and far-reaching consequences on the educational journey of countless students.
“We, the students, are the primary stakeholders in this situation. Our voices, hopes, and futures hang in the balance,” said Mr Okunomo.
