The inability of the Academic staff union of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigerian government to reach an agreement and end this seven (7) month Strike has taken another route, as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has disclosed that they’ll be organizing a peaceful nationwide mass protest.
Recommended: Latest ASUU Strike Update Today.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has agreed and very much intend to organise a nationwide mass protest to press home its demand for the immediate reopening of all federal and state universities across the 36 states of Nigeria.
This resolution was reached in a communique issued on Wednesday, 11th November in Enugu state after the NANS Students’ Leaders Emergency Virtual Meeting held on the 9th of November.
The official agreement disclosed that the continued strike by ASUU and FG (since they are not eager to end the strike), is an organized crime against students’ career and educational pursuits in Nigeria.
However, before the Nationwide mass protest will kickoff, the NANS has declared a14-day Ultimatum for both parties (ASUU and FG) to resolve their impasse for campuses to re-open or risk Mass Protest of Nigerians and all well-wishers.
According to the statement released by the association, the #EndASUUStrike protest will have an economic shut down as the major target, affecting the government and ensure they give proper attention to the matter.
The statement released by NANS discloses that:
That NANS declares the necessity of a 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 enhance and improve the economic effects of the lockdown occasioned by the global pandemic (COVID-19).
“This is to avert mass drop out of the Nigerian students which may increase crime and criminality among youths in the country, and to students resuming academic activities too.
“That the federal government has failed to prioritize education, as promised by Bashir Ahmed, hence the failure to deploy necessary funds for a complete overhauling of the education sector and total revitalization of tertiary education in Nigeria.
The National association of Nigerian students further noted that the federal government had not earmarked meaningful budgetary allocation to the sector in line with the recommendation of UNESCO 26 percent educational budgetary allocation.
“Consequently, NANS with no hesitation whatsoever, is giving both parties, a 14 days Ultimatum to resolve their headlocked war for our campuses to re-open or risk Mass Protest tagged #EndASUUStrike Nationwide – with economic shut down as the major target.
The association further disclosed that while this strike is ongoing, both Government and ASUU lose nothing at the end of every strike, both salaries, promotions and other payments/salaries among others goes uninterrupted.
However, the major losers here are the Nigerian students, and the association named the following reason why Nigerian students are the greatest losers in this ASUU STRIKE…
- Career are delayed,
- Stay on campus extended,
- House rent/hostel fee extended,
- NYSC age limit exceeded,
- Federal/state job age requirement exceeded.
- General life plan of an average Nigerian student and goals extended for no justified reason.
All these are considered an act of deliberate wickedness by the association.
The NANS body further disclosed that on behalf of Nigerian students, they will be approaching the Federal High Court to seek legal redress on ASUU and FG in demand for compensation/damages for Nigerians students’ time wastage, life plan disruption, and career delay in various form.
These compensation includes:
- Mmandatory alternative modalities for ASUU to press home her members’ demand without interrupting academic calendar.
- NYSC age limit extension,
- Mandatory removal of age limit for Federal and State job employment.
- Unconditional two academic sessions,
- School fees waiver among others respectively.
The leadership of NANS, led by Comrade Chidi Ilogebe would proceed to have a press conference to address Nigeria students, the Federal Government, and ASUU on its next line of action if nothing is done to end the ASUU strike.
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