In a statement, Adegboye Olatunji, the NANS Zone D Coordinator, said the students had waited long enough for the government to settle the situation.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Zone D has threatened to shut down all international airports if the Nigerian government does not address the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other staff unions’ continuing strike action, according to The Nation.
In a statement, Adegboye Olatunji, the NANS Zone D Coordinator, said the students had waited long enough for the government to settle the situation.
He went on to say that students would seize the bull by the horns and refuse to remain silent, warning that President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on the problem could jeopardize their future.
“It is necessary and urgent to address this press conference today with a view to ending the long-running strike action of ASUU and ASUP (Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics), and a thorough reformation of the educational sector,” the statement stated.
“The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students Southwest (Zone D), in collaboration with the National Association of University Students Southwest (NAUS), has adopted a firm stance against Nigeria’s deteriorating educational system.
“We are at a point in history when Nigerian students have lost hope and have no idea what will happen next.” The ASUU strike has lasted over three months, not to mention the two-week ASUP warning strike.
“We have also waited a long time to see if the Federal Government will respond to the cries of Nigerian students for an end to the ASUU strike, but the opposite is true. We’ve held a number of news conferences, given interviews, and held meetings to plead with both ASUU and the federal government. Our future has been put in jeopardy. We live in a country where age is a major determinant of employment.
“Aviation unions issued a two-day strike warning against airline cancellations. The Federal Government summoned a meeting, and the strike was called off in less than 24 hours because it would hurt first-class citizens. However, it is clear that none of them are affected by the ASUU/ASUP strike. They have youngsters all across the world who are receiving a good education.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission detained the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, on Monday, May 16th, 2022, for alleged money laundering and diversion of public funds worth at least N80 billion” (EFCC). Where is the government’s integrity preaching against corruption? How much public money would have been spent to settle the educational sector and put a stop to the annual ASUU/ASUP strike?
“The ASUU/ASUP strike has been going on for a long time, and the Federal Government has shown no concern through the Minister of Education.
“We are ready to seize the bull by the horns, as Nigerian students will not remain mute while the ASUU/ASUP strike ruins our future.”
“We’re on the last C of ALUTA, which is Confrontation, according to the Solidarity Commandment. This is the time to mobilize all Nigerian students from all zones to take over all of the country’s international airports. Nigerian students are fed up with the long-awaited strike.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students Southwest (Zone D), in collaboration with the National Association of University Students (NAUS), declares a big protest to close all international airports in Nigeria.” We must say definitely to the Federal Government that unless the ASUU / ASUP strike is called off completely, all activities by approximately twenty-two million five hundred and twenty-seven (22,575,000) Nigerian students across Southwest Nigeria will be suspended.”
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