By CHARLES IWUOHA

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has resolved to organise a nationwide mass protest to press home its demand for 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.

In the communiqué, NANS said that the continued strike action was an organised crime against students’ career and educational pursuits.

It declared a 14-day ultimatum for both parties (ASUU and the FG) to resolve their impasse for campuses to re-open or risk mass protest.

According to the statement, #EndASUUStrike protest will have economic shut down as the major target.

The statement reads in part: “That NANS declares the necessity of minimum of 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 fund for complete overhauling of education sector and total revitalization of University education in Nigeria, through a meaningful budgetary allocation to the sector in line with the recommendation of UNESCO 26 per cent educational budgetary allocation.

“Which can be traced as the root cause of incessant strike by the Academic Staff Union(s) in all Nigeria tertiary institutions?

“That NANS has affirmed the perpetual and continue industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of University (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 parties to resolve their impasse for our campuses to re-open or risk mass protest – #EndASUUStrike nationwide – with economic shut down as the major target.

“That while both Government and ASUU lose nothing at the end of every strike actions, both salaries, promotions and other emoluments among others flows uninterrupted;

“Nigerian students are the greatest losers as their career stand 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 which are considered an act of deliberate wickedness.

“That NANS, on behalf of Nigerian students shall approach the Federal High Court to seek legal redress on ASUU and FG in demand for compensation/damages for Nigerians students’ time wastage, life plan disruption and career delay.

“These shall include mandatory alternative modalities for ASUU to press home her members’ demand without interrupting academic calendar; NYSC age limit extension, mandatory removal of age limit for Federal and State job employment, unconditional two academic session school fees waiver and among others respectively.”

The statement said that the leadership of NANS, led by Comrade Chidi Ilogebe, would proceed to have a press conference to address Nigerian students, the Federal Government and ASUU on their positions and next line of action as resolved therein.

The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr. Salahudeen Lukman, Chairman Communiqué Drafting Committee from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Mr. Danladi Jonah, Vice Chairman Communiqué Drafting Committee from Modibo Adama Federal University Yola, Adamawa State, Mr. Ogunsanya Rasheed, JCC Chairman Lagos, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija-Epe, Lagos State, as member; and Mr. Nwafor Joshua, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, as member.

The rest are Mr. Adai Pius, SUG President, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Benue State, as Member and Rukkayya Yusuf, ABU Zaria, Kaduna State as Member.