ASSU/FG Impasse: University Students To Protest Nationwide Demanding Immediate Reopening Of All Universities

The federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities have been given 14-day ultimatum to resolve all their issues or face nationwide protest.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) reached the conclusion as it pressed home its demand for the immediate reopening of all universities across the country. It said it has resolved to organise a nationwide mass protest if the impasse between the FG and ASUU continues.

This is part of resolutions reached in a communique issued on Wednesday in Enugu after NANS Students’ Leaders Emergency Virtual Meeting held on Nov. 9.

According to the information gathered by Giditrendz, the communiqué said that the continued strike was an organized crime against students’ career and educational pursuits.

It said that NANS with no hesitation declares 14-day Ultimatum for both parties (ASUU and FG) to resolve their impasse for campuses to re-open or risk Mass Protest.

According to the statement, the #EndASUUStrike protest will have an economic shut down as the major target.

The statement reads in part:

“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 ameliorate the economic effects of the lockdown occasioned by the global pandemic.

“This is to avert mass drop out of students which may increase crime and criminality among youths in the country.

“That the government has failed to prioritize education, hence the failure to deploy necessary funds for a complete overhauling of the education sector and total revitalization of university education in Nigeria.

The statement said that 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 our positions and next line of action as resolved therein.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the communique drafting committee led by Mr. Salahudeen Lukman as Chairman, from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Mr. Danladi Jonah from Modibo Adama Federal University Yola, Adamawa State.

Others are Mr. Ogunsanya Rasheed, JCC Chairman Lagos, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija-Epe, Lagos State, and Mr. Nwafor Joshua, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.

The rest are Mr. Adai Pius, SUG President, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Benue State, and Rukkayya Yusuf, ABU Zaria, Kaduna State.