Gentlemen of the Press,
It is with great pleasure we welcome you all to this press briefing. We thank our co-compatriots in the fourth estate of the realm who, despite their tight schedule and at short notice spare their time to be part of this briefing. We believe that the Students’ Movement and Media are the major catalyst of development anywhere in the globe.
We wishes to restate our total commitment towards the return of Nigerian Students in the nation public Universities back to campus, the ongoing #EndASUUStrikeNow which has commenced will be sustained until the Federal Government of Nigeria resolve with ASUU and our students are back to their campuses.
Today, a lot of Nigerian Students have lost a complete academic session due to this unwarranted dispute between the Federal Government and ASUU, not counting those that have lost their lives or involve in one casualty or the other due to the protracted ASUU strike. To us, the ASUU strike is germane and the only way to save public higher institutions across the nation from total collapse is to properly invest in the educational sector.
The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will continue to ground all the nation public assets from roads to airports including Nigeria Ports Authority if the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour fail to resolve with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in no distant time.
For those misconstruing our struggle, we call on them to see reason with Nigerian Students and join us in the struggle to save public education in the country.
Gentlemen of the press, that public Universities have been shut down in the last seven months is not only disheartening, it connotes a clear demonstration that public tertiary education in this country is treated with utmost disregard. This is particularly disturbing because those who bear the brunt of these frequent crises are not privileged to seek alternatives. Yet, it is such irresponsibility, particularly, on the part of the Federal Government, that has shoehorned the citadels of learning into theatres of despair, and a reason for all stakeholders to be worried.
The leadership of NANS demand a better deal for education of Nigerian masses because most of the children of the privileged few now study either in overseas or in Private Universities established with our common wealth across the country by the same set of people we entrusted to govern us. This is more reason they will continue to turn deaf ears to the demand by ASUU for improve standard and condition of learning in our public higher institutions.
We condemn the Federal Government of Nigeria for not prioritizing the concerns of ASUU after having extensive meeting with its leadership, with the view of bringing an end to the protracted industrial action. We appeal to our lecturers to intensify the campaign for proper funding of the educational sector and not limit the agitation to the welfare of their members alone.
Furthermore, we are aware of the report on the activities of some enemy of progress elements within the students movement whose stock in trade is playing good boy to any government in power with peanuts even when the outcome of the industrial action embark upon by ASUU to save the educational sector will equally affect them and their loved ones. This set of unprogressive self acclaimed students leader who are tagging our END ASUU STRIKE Now struggle as been politically motivated are nothing but hired mercenaries in support of Government insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian Students and poor parents who are bearing the brunt of this strike.
Our blocking of access to public roads and ports is just a warning. If the government fails to conclude all the negotiation and agreement with ASUU within the frame of two weeks, they will witness more protests and rallies all over the country, they will also witness the annoyance, anger and frustration of Nigerians Students who have been at home for the past Seven months. As we promise them that we will not allow any political campaign to hold across the country until we are back to class. This government has pushed so many Nigerians Students into depression. We say enough is enough; we can no longer bear the brunt from this avoidable crisis in our nation public ivory towers again.
The National executive of the association ably represented by Akinteye Babatunde
VP (External Affairs), and the National PRO, Giwa Yisa Temitope and the legislative arm ably represented by Ekundina Elvis, the Deputy Senate President, the Zonal Coordinator, Olatunji Emmanuel and the JCC Chairmen of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos and Ondo are most appreciated for their commitment thus far in leading the agitation.
Thank you all for your time.
Aluta Continua!
Victoria Acerta!!
Ojo Raymond Olumide
Chairman, NANS National Taskforce on #EndASUUStrikeNow
