By Adadainfo
The ongoing industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities is the federal government’s ploy to take education beyond the reach of poor Nigerians.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the umbrella body of Nigerian students, stated this in a release by Ojo Raymond Olumide, chairman, NANS National Task Force on Ending ASUU Strike, which was made available to Adadainfo weekend.
The students’ body accused the federal government of insensitivity, adding that, ‘the current administration should have been sacked a long time ago’.
According to the body, “This administration willingly entered into a social contract with the Nigerian people which they have failed to meet.
“We recall that this federal government commenced this dangerous trend from public primary schools across the country after which they drifted to secondary schools.
“This, we believe, is a calculated attempt to murder education and take it out of the reach of the poor. We find this most embarrassing. Right now, the federal government is at the conclusive end of what they began long ago by murdering public tertiary education in the country.
“This, as Nigerian students, we have vowed to resist and we shall fight to a standstill.”
“The national leadership of the association shall inform Nigerian people of the next phase of the struggle to come in the days ahead.”
Our correspondent reports that ASUU and the FG are currently at the Industrial Court over the matter. FG wants the court to order the lecturers to return to classroom.
The strike is now about seven months, having started on Feb 14 this year.
