PBA ReporterFarouk Lawal, the newly-elected President of the National Association of Nigerian Students has pressured the Federal Ministry of Education, saying, NANS would occupy the ministry until the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities are met.
At a press briefing in Abuja, Lawal noted that the student body would also develop a framework to ensure lasting peace in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Comrade Lawal called on the Federal Government to resolve, within a few days, the prolonged, ASUU, strike or face mass action by students.
He said, “Academic Staff Union (ASUU) has been on strike for almost eight months, the academic calendar cannot be used as a parameter for years of studies anymore, as students keep suffering from the long-term effect of the strike. The Nigerian students’ patience has been stretched beyond its limit and they have resolved to liberate themselves from the recurring effect of the industrial action by ASUU”.
He said, “We are giving the Federal Government an ultimatum. We will mobilise students towards occupying the Ministry of Education until our demands are met.”
NANS also urged the federal government to set visitation panels to address issues of all politically expelled and rusticated students, as well as increase budgetary allocation for the education sector.
“We also call on the Federal Government to set up visitation panels to address issues of all politically-expelled and rusticated students. We also want all stakeholders of education to ensure they are engaged in ensuring that education is given the desired attention by the increment of budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Education to meet up with the UNESCO recommendation.”
NANS Senate President, Adediwura Adeshina, said the association would meet with student leaders across the country to ensure that arrangements were made as regards the planned protest at the federal Ministry of Education.
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