by Hope-Feyisayo Temitope
The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has urged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to establish common ground to preventing academic disruptions.
NANS Senate President Henry Okunomo made the disclosure at a news briefing on Sunday in Akure, recall that ASUU gave a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government about several pending demands.
Okunomo, encouraged President Bola Tinubu to commit appropriate resources to the educational sector, with prompt and decisive measures to avoid interruption in the educational sector by averting a strike, to develop facilities, offer required instructional aids, and guarantee that professors’ wages and benefits are paid on time.
“We are all acutely aware of the recurring disruptions caused by strikes in our universities.
“These strikes, often as a result of unresolved issues between university lecturers and the government, have profound and far-reaching consequences on the educational journey of countless students.
“It is with a heavy heart and a determined spirit that I address this pressing issue today, appealing to the government to take immediate and effective steps to prevent our lecturers from resorting to another strike.
“We, the students, are the primary stakeholders in this situation. Our voices, hopes, and futures hang in the balance.
“We are counting on the government to act decisively and with a sense of urgency to prevent the devastating impact of another strike.
“We appeal to our lecturers to also embrace dialogue and shift ground where necessary to avoid collapse of the education system,” he said.