Lagos – The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) will come out with its position on the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday, its president, Mr Yinka Gbadebo, said on Wednesday.
Gbadebo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the body was still consulting on the issue.
He said that for now, they were appealing to all parties involved in the strike to find ways of reaching a compromise as students were always affected during strikes.
On the implication of the ASUU strike coming when the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) was also protesting, he said that it was not good for students to be at home for long.
“The government should at least do something for the unions because they play an important role and in the interest of the nation’s academic future, there should be a compromise.
“We are appealing to both unions to look into the plight of the students because the staying at home of the students could do damage to their future, “ he said.
According to him, though the demands of the two unions would improve their productivity and welfare, they should also consider the students.
Gbadebo said that there should be give-and-take from both the government and the unions in resolving the problems.
NAN recalls that ASUU had directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike nationwide since Monday.
The action followed the inability of the Federal Government to implement some of the issues contained in a 2009 agreement it had with the union.
ASUU also said the government had reneged on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it entered into with the union in December 2011.
ASUP has also been on strike since April– over several issues. (NAN)
CHAIRMAN, Academic Staff Union of Nigeria Universities (ASUU), University of Ilorin chapter, Professor Wahab Egbewole, has said his members will not join the ongoing nationwide strike, because the national headquarters of the union did not extend the directive to the university.
Nigerian Tribune investigations in the university, on Wednesday, revealed that academic activities were on, just as students were seen sitting for their examinations, while lecturers and other staff went about their normal activities.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Professor Egbewole said the congress of the university was not aversed to a positive working relationship with the ASUU national headquarters, adding that several efforts of the chapter towards the development were rebuffed.
“It’s important to note that before a union will go on strike, there is the need for consultation. Up till now, I have not been informed in any way or form of communication and I sincerely believe that other universities who are participating in the strike did not get the directive on the pages of newspapers,” he said.
The ASUU boss, who said strike was not the solution to any form of disagreement between unions and managements, added that “as far as we are concerned in University of Ilorin, strike is not the solution to any form of disagreement, and this is not to say that the Federal Government is not at fault in the present scenario.
“If the Federal Government voluntarily and willingly signed an agreement with ASUU in 2004 and up till about a year ago, the agreement was not implemented, it’s less than honourable on its part.”
Some students of the institution, who also spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on conditions of anonymity, commended their lecturers for not taking part in the ongoing strike, a development they claimed had ensured a steady and uninterrupted academic exercise in the university for over 10 years.
“It’s obvious through JAMB reports over 10 years ago that candidates seeking admission to Nigeria universities prefer University of Ilorin far above other universities because of the steady academic exercise and high quality academic standard, as a result of various awards our students have won in the year under review,” one of the students said.
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