Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in the South West and Kwara State have demanded an immediate resolution to the lingering strike that has crippled academic activities at various universities.
They made the demand on Friday at a press conference held at the University of Ibadan in the Oyo State capital.
Abiodun Oloyede, the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), spoke on behalf of the students.
He said, “We have waited, we have hoped, but this is the eighth month and there seems to be no breakthrough in sight.
“Several engagements between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, since the inception of this strike, have always been resulting in a deadlock.”
“It is on that noted that we are making our position and demands to the Federal Government of Nigeria very clear and explicit.
“We the great students of the Federation, hereby request an end to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities; the struggle of ASUU should never be undermined as we truly know that the revitalisation and improvement in the quality of infrastructure at regulation of payment of salary are dearly needed,” Oloyede added.
According to him, the students have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government or get ready to face a national agitation by the student bodies.
The students noted with concern that the government has not found a way out of the industrial action which started on March 23.
They called for a compromise between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to put an end to the suffering of young Nigerians in the university.
The group also stressed the need for the government to recognise education as a major factor for sustainable growth and development, thereby making better funding of universities a priority.
“Please, we urgently call for a compromise to be reached by both parties; the future of students is at stake, some have lost faith in education in this country and it is a great slap on the face of the nation.
“Not every parent or guardian can afford to send their children to private universities,” said Oloyede.
The press conference had in attendance presidents of the student unions of various universities in the South West, as well as Kwara State.
It was convened following the series of meetings between the government and ASUU which ended inconclusively, a development that has left students out of the classroom for several months.
