The National Association of Nigerian Students, South-West Zone, has declared support for the two-day planned protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress, towards ending the prolonged strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The leadership of the zone, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, and Public Relations Officer; Adegboye Olatunji and Awoyinfa Opeoluwa, dated Monday, and made available to The PUNCH, Tuesday, noted that Nigerian students had lost hope over the prolonged strike and did not know what was next again.
The PUNCH reports that the NLC had declared a nationwide protest for July 26 and 27, 2022, in solidarity with ASUU.
Backing the workers’ union, NANS said, “It is timely and urgent to issue this statement today with a view to putting an end to the lingering strike action by ASUU. We want a total reformation of the educational sector.
“The Leadership of NANS, Zone D, has taken it upon herself to categorically stand against the dilapidated state of the educational sector in Nigeria.
“We are at a time when Nigerian students have lost hope and do not know what’s next on the radar. ASUU strike has been on for over five months without any hope of resumption.
“We have also waited for so long to see if the Federal Government will dance to the music of Nigerian students who have been clamoring for an end to the ASUU strike but the reverse is the case.
“We’ve had several press conferences, granted several interviews, held several meetings to plead with both ASUU and the Federal Government, and held several peaceful protests across the Federation.”
NANS noted that the future of students was being jeopardised, considering the fact that they were in a country where age was a key factor in its labor market.
“According to the commandment of solidarity, we’re on the last ‘Cs of Aluta,’ which is confrontation. This is the time to call on all Nigerian students across all zones to join the NLC in solidarity to end ASUU strike on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, and Wednesday, July 27, 2022. Nigerian students are tired of the long overdue strike action.
“Consequently, all NANS cadres and stakeholders, zonal leadership, Campus Committee Chairmen, Student Union Government presidents, Nigerian students, and the general public are hereby put on high notice to mobilise, organise and get prepared to be part of the movement.
“We are ready to take the bull by the horn as Nigerian Students will not keep silent and watch our future being ruined by the prolonged ASUU strike,” the statement added.