The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has concluded plans to embark on a nationwide mass protest to demand the immediate reopening of all universities across the country. This is part of resolutions reached in a communiqué issued on Wednesday in Enugu after NANS Students' Leaders Emergency Virtual Meeting held on November 9. The students' leaders lamented that the continued strike was an organized crime against students' career and educational pursuits. It said that NANS with no hesitation declares 14-day Ultimatum for both parties (ASUU and FG) to resolve their impasse for campuses to re-open or risk Mass Protest tagged #EndASUUStrike which will have an economic shut down as the major target.
The statements reads in part: "That NANS declares the necessity of a minimum to two academic session school fees waiver for Nigerian students in both state and federal institutions in the spirit of COVID-19 palliative to ameliorate the economic effects of the lockdown occasioned by the global pandemic.
"This is to avert mass drop out of students which may increase crime and criminality among youths in the country.
"That the government has failed to prioritize education, hence the failure to deploy necessary funds for a complete overhauling of the education sector and total revitalization of university education in Nigeria.
"That NANS has affirmed the perpetual and continued industrial actions by ASUU as the only tool to press home her demands as an organized crime against students' career and educational pursuits.
"Consequently, NANS with no hesitation declares 14 days Ultimatum for both ASUU and FG to resolve their impasse for our campuses to re-open or risk Mass Protest tagged #EndASUUStrike Nationwide - with economic shut down as the major target.
"That while both Government and ASUU lose nothing at the end of every strike, both salaries, promotions and other emoluments among others flows uninterrupted;
"Nigerian students are the greatest losers as their career are delayed, stay on campus extended, house rent/hostel fee incurred, NYSC age limit exceeded, Federal/state job age requirement exceeded among other negative effects and impacts on general life plan of an average Nigerian student.
