NANS appeals to govt to resolve ASUU, COEASU strike

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has again appealed to the Federal Government to take concrete steps towards ending the lingering strike actions by the lecturers of both universities and colleges of education in Nigeria.

Speaking through its public relations officer, Okereafor Bestman Opeyemi, NANS said the industrial actions, if not resolved, would affect students’ academic programmes.

Both the Academic Staff Union of Universities and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union have been on strike for weeks without any hope in sight for early resolution for students to return back to classes.

Opeyemi said it is unfortunate that in most public institutions, students spend about six years for a four-year programme due to frequent strike actions.

He said the students were delighted by recent progressive decision of the government to reduce the cost in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board form from N5000 to N3,500, and National Examination Council from N11,350 to N9,850 respectively.

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The NANS image maker, however, said the Federal Government could also muster such will power and commitment in resolving its disagreement with ASUU and COEASU in the interest of the students.

He said: “We remain of the opinion that schools must be made conducive for all Nigerian students on Nigerian campuses as it was in the days of old.

“The Federal Government must consider making our campuses conducive for learning and research. It’s disheartening that we have lost quite a handful of young, hardworking and promising Nigerian students to the cold hands of death due to the ongoing strike action.

“NANS is passionately appealing to the presidency to prioritise education and especially the (resolution of) the ongoing ASUU and COEASU strike as it has truncated the chances of some of our compatriots chances of graduating in 2018.”