NANS Issues 7-Day Ultimatum to FG, ASUU to End Dispute or Face Action
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve their ongoing dispute and avert another round of strike action capable of crippling academic activities across the country.
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, on Wednesday, NANS expressed deep concern over the renewed tension between the government and ASUU, warning that any disruption to the academic calendar would be met with stiff resistance from Nigerian students.
Oladoja noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration, the education sector had experienced two uninterrupted academic sessions — a feat he described as unprecedented since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
However, he lamented that the recent warning strike by ASUU had begun to threaten this stability.
“It is in this spirit that NANS appeals to both ASUU and the Federal Government’s negotiation team to find a workable and lasting solution within the next seven days. Nigerian students, many of whom are now studying through educational loans, cannot afford another disruption to their academic calendar or an extension of their stay on campus,” Oladoja said.
The NANS President commended President Tinubu’s education reforms, citing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the removal of tertiary staff unions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), reversal of the 40 per cent IGR remittance policy, and special TETFund interventions as significant milestones.
Despite these achievements, he attributed the current crisis to poor communication and delays in implementing earlier agreements with ASUU.
“It is regrettable that despite the progress recorded, this looming strike — arising from miscommunication and poor crisis management — is creating avoidable tension that threatens the peace and progress of the education sector,” he added.
Read Also:
Oladoja revealed that NANS’ independent findings showed that an earlier meeting convened by the Federal Government to address ASUU’s grievances was boycotted by the union due to procedural disagreements.
“We have received assurances from both parties that they are ready to return to the negotiation table once the meeting is properly reconvened. NANS, therefore, urges the government to immediately call the meeting to close this communication gap,” he said.
He further appealed to President Tinubu to personally intervene, warning that inaction could erode the goodwill and stability achieved in the sector over the past two years.
“We strongly emphasise the need for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to personally intervene to prevent the gains achieved in the education sector under his Renewed Hope Administration from being eroded by another strike action,” Oladoja stated.
“Nigerian students remain grateful for President Tinubu’s commitment to education and student welfare. However, if this impasse persists beyond seven days, it risks undermining the progress and goodwill of this administration. Now is the time for dialogue, understanding, and decisive action — the future of millions of Nigerian students depends on it,” he warned.
ASUU had on Monday embarked on a warning strike following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to meet its long-standing demands.
The union’s grievances include the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, payment of withheld salaries, revitalisation of public universities, and sustainable funding for tertiary institutions. Other issues include payment of promotion arrears, release of cooperative deductions, and settlement of 25–35 per cent salary arrears.
The renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, stalled since 2017, remains unresolved despite several government committees. The most recent, chaired by Yayale Ahmed, submitted its report in December 2024, but implementation is yet to commence.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has reportedly directed university vice-chancellors to enforce the government’s “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking lecturers — a move that has sparked outrage among university workers.
The ongoing strike has already disrupted examinations in several universities nationwide, leaving students and parents anxious about further delays in the academic calendar.
By PRNigeria
