The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to resolve their lingering dispute or risk mass student protests against academic shutdown.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, expressed frustration over the renewed tension between both parties, warning that any disruption to the current academic calendar would be intolerable to Nigerian students.
Oladoja noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the education sector had enjoyed two consecutive years without strike actions — the longest uninterrupted academic stretch since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. However, he lamented that ASUU’s recent warning strike now threatens to reverse that progress.
“It is in this spirit that NANS appeals to both ASUU and the Federal Government to find a workable and lasting solution within seven days,” Oladoja said. “Many students are studying through educational loans and cannot afford further delays or extensions to their studies.”
He commended Tinubu’s education reforms — including the creation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, exemption of tertiary unions from IPPIS, reversal of the 40% IGR remittance policy, and increased TETFund interventions — describing them as clear proof of the government’s commitment to student welfare.
ALSO READ: FG activates no-work, no-pay clause on ASUU members
However, Oladoja criticised poor communication between ASUU and government officials, which he said had escalated minor disagreements into a national crisis. He revealed that NANS’ investigations showed the union boycotted a previous reconciliation meeting due to procedural issues but that both parties had since agreed to reconvene.
“We call on the Federal Government to urgently reconvene the meeting and close this communication gap before it is too late,” he added.
The NANS president urged President Tinubu to personally intervene in the negotiations, stressing that failure to act swiftly could erode the goodwill and stability achieved under his administration.
ASUU had on Monday commenced a warning strike after its 14-day ultimatum to the government expired. The union is demanding the full implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, payment of withheld salaries, revitalisation funds for universities, and clearance of outstanding arrears.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has since ordered vice-chancellors to enforce the government’s “No Work, No Pay” policy, a decision that has further heightened tensions within the academic community.
Punch
