By Adadainfo
Preparations are on top gear by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to mobilise a nationwide strike following the nonchalant attitude of the federal government over the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The strike began in February this year, and the FG, through the minister of labour (state), Festus Keyamo, has stated that ASUU demands would be difficult to meet. Among ASUU demands is adequate funding of Nigeria’s education sector to avert its total collapse.
NANS plan to join forces with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress in their quest to force the Buhari government to yield to those demands.
The students’ body stated the mobilisation arrangements in a communique it issued after the meeting of South-West students’ stakeholders held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The meeting was attended by the Students Union Government (SUG) presidents and other present and former leaders of NANS from Zone D.
The communique was signed by Comrade Adegboye Olatunji, coordinator, NANS Zone D; Comrade Kehinde Damilola, chairman, NANS Ogun; Comrade Adeleke Quadri, chairman, NANS Oyo, and Comrade Omotosho Surprise, chairman, NANS Ondo.
It read in part, “We frown totally at the federal government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the [education] sector, especially by treating the strike action of university staff unions with levity.
“We are resolute on mobilising all our forces to show our displeasure, and we call on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to deepen the struggle by mobilising for a national strike action until the government finds a solution to the strike action.”
Ebonyi governor Dave Umahi recently said the Buhari government would not borrow over N1tr to meet ASUU demands.
