National leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the ongoing strike action embarked on by a section of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the National president of NANS Comrade Lucky Emonefe, he enjoined the striking lecturers to see reasons and resume work immediately.
He noted that it is saddening that ASUU always ignores the interests and plight of Nigerian students and parents before opting to embark on industrial action.
Emonefe however, commended lecturers who are members of the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and the Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics (CONUA) for rejecting the strike.
He also commended the House of Representatives Committee on University Education for their prompt intervention in the matter and their call on the striking lecturers to return to work.
The NANS president said, “Our position is that gone were the days when staff of tertiary institutions (both teaching and non teaching) would so cavalierly down tools and refuse to work, rather than dialogue and amicably resolve grievances.
“The lack of sensitivity and regards for students, parents, and the education system, is unacceptable and unbecoming of an otherwise union of intellectuals who should have known better.
“Strike actions in our institutions only disrupt, derail and destroy, but never address any problems.
“Just consider that between 2020 and 2023 the Nigerian university system has lost over 16 months to ASUU strikes. This is the height of insensitivity.
“We wonder why ASUU always embarks on strike actions at the least prompting when other options of dispute resolutions are open for considerations.”
