The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to step in in the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to enable their members return to school.
ASUU commenced an industrial action on 14 February – 205 days ago – with no hope of settlement between the Federal Government and ASUU in sight.
ASUU demands included government’s implementation of the Memorandum of Action on funding for revitalisation of public universities, which was signed in December 2020.
Other demands are Earned Academic Allowances, renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for staff payment, among others
NANS new President, Mr Usman Barambu described as worrisome the lingering dispute, noting that the incessant strikes had affected the academic calendar of public owned universities.
“Also, it has negatively impacted on the future of Nigerian students, as a programme of four years now would last for six years”, he added.
Similarly, NANS’ Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee, Mr Usman Ayuba urged the President to bring on board capable hands with experience and capacity to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.
He also appealed to the government to proffer workable solutions to address incessant clashes between farmers and herders across the country.
Ayuba called on the Ministry of Education to give priority attention to the sector in terms of budgetary allocation to meet the UNESCO standard and recommendation of setting aside 26 per cent of annual budget to education by developing countries.
The students also wanted lecturers involved in sex-for-marks malpractice to desist from such nefarious activities, stressing that students would expose anyone found culpable.
Credit: News Agency of Nigeria
