The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve their differences or face a national mass action by Nigerian students.
President of the NANS, Sunday Adedayo, revealed this on Monday, in Sokoto shortly after signing the reviewed Constitution of the association at the Sokoto State Government House.
He said the decision to block all federal roads in the country was agreed upon by all organs of the students’ body on Saturday at Sokoto State University.
The students’ association explained that Nigerian students could not continue paying for the sins they know nothing about.
According to NANS president, “The Nigerian students have concluded and given the mandate that if the Federal Government and ASUU do not resolve this between today and Friday, Nigerian students should mobilise and give the language the government understands.
“Nigerian students can’t continue to pay for sins we never committed, as we are paying for our education, we strongly believe we deserve the best, at the end of every industrial action, ASUU members are paid their salaries, likewise Government officials in charge of education supervision get their pays.
“It is only Nigerian students that get nothing but a waste of everything, the house rent is non – refundable, the age count is irreversible. The extension of stay on campus didn’t only affect our academic journey but destabilise our life plans, as many misses NYSC mobilisation due to age limit, many lost job opportunities arising from age factors while many became exposed to risks and crimes following the avoidable idleness mode the strike action imposed on Nigerian students.
“To act against these numerous consequences of industrial action on Nigerian students’ academic journey, I am pleased to direct the immediate commencement of planning and mass mobilisation of Nigerian students and comrades across the 36 state of the Federation and FCT in line with congress decision.
“The line of actions is as follows:
“Blockage of all major Federal Roads in all the 36 states of the Federation to be led and coordinated by NANS JCC and Zonal Executive including National officials of NANS in the state.
“Federal Capital Territory to be blocked by National Secretariat in collaboration with FCT axis of NANS.
“These became sacrosanct once ASUU and FG fail to reach compromise and get our campuses reopened on or before 28th February 2022.
“In a clear term, Monday 28th February 2022 is hereby declared as National Action Day Against ASUU Incessant Strike Action tagged ‘#ENDASUUSTRIKEPERMANENTLYNOW’.”
Adedayo maintained that NANS would not watch the government destroy tertiary education, just as it subverted the education system at the primary and secondary levels.
