ASUU Strike: NANS convenes emergency meeting, seeks constructive engagement

• As ASUU backs off meeting with FG

As the Federal Government plans to meet with ASUU on the ongoing indefinite strike, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is calling on the parties to engage in constructive engagement with a human face to resolve the lingering issues that led to the declaration of the strike to safe the education sector and the future of Nigerian Students in the interest of the Nation.
The Students Association had given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to resolve the issues to enable students return to school failure which will lead to a total shut of activities across nation by students.
The student body decried the incessant and prolonged strike as one of factors responsible for the falling standard of education in Nigeria apart from the attendant untold hardship to the Students and their Parents and Guardians.
According to the President of NANS, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, incessant strikes and stoppage of academic activities as a result of lack of agreements or lack of adherence and implementation of duly executed memorandum of agreements between the Federal Government and ASUU does not reflect and demonstrate commitment to the sustainable development of the nation’s education sector and the development of the nation’s human capital development.
Obasi stated that though the Association had called for an emergency Senate meeting to deliberate on the strike and other issues of critical national importance and take a position on the way forward before the Federal Government’s call for a meeting with ASUU, the Association will await the outcome of meeting to determine the next line of action.
The Association calls on the parties to demonstrate sensitivity and a great sense of patriotism in resolving the issues as the earliest convenience to save education in the nation and avert unfortunate developments associated with the idleness of young people.
In a related development, ASU said it has withdrawn from a meeting with the Federal Government scheduled for Tuesday.
The union refused to attend the highly anticipated meeting, aimed at resolving its two-week strike, saying there is no need for the meeting since its position had already been sent to the federal government.
The meeting was confirmed in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, late Monday.
The statement said the government delegation at the meeting would include the Ministers of Education and Finance; Chairman, National Income Salaries, and Wages Commission; and the Executive Secretary, National Universities, Commission
But in statement signed by ASUU president, Biodun Ogunyemi, the lecturers explained their position.
“On Thursday 17th August 2017, we met with the Minister of Labour and Education where it was decided that we should consult our members and revert back to the government, we have consulted our members and in a letter dated 28th of August, we have written back to the federal government on the outcome of our consultations,” ASUU said.
“As we expect the federal govt reaction to our letter, we hope it would not be long before we receive a response that would be bring lasting solution to the dispute.”
ASUU president said the union did not attend the meeting since a letter had been sent to the government detailing its position.
“We already sent them a letter, so there was no need for the meeting, what we are expecting is a reply to our letter,” he said in response to press enquiry.
ASUU says it wants better welfare for staff and improved funding for Nigerian universities.