“Listen To The Demands Of ASUU And Stop Impending Shut Down Of Varsities” NANS, Parents Appeal To FG

The New Diplomat
Writer

Ad

Nsukka Catholic Diocese Grieves Loss of Bishop Emeritus Francis Okobo at 89

By Abiola Olawale The Catholic community in Nsukka, Enugu State has been engulfed by tears following the passing of Most Rev. Dr. Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo, Bishop Emeritus of the Nsukka Catholic Diocese. It was gathered that Okobo passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the age of 89. The revered cleric, who served…

Anticipation as Tottenham Accelerates Transfer Chase for Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman

By Abiola Olawale English football club, Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly intensifying negotiations to sign Atalanta’s star forward Ademola Lookman as the summer transfer window approaches its September 1 deadline. It was gathered that Lookman, a 27-year-old Nigerian international, has reportedly caught the eye of Tottenham. Lookman is also reportedly eager to return to the Premier…

Oil Prices Aren’t Likely To Rise Anytime Soon

Analysts surveyed by Reuters expect Brent Crude to average $67.65 per barrel and WTI Crude to average $64.65 per barrel this year, with slight adjustments from previous forecasts. Factors contributing to the subdued oil price outlook include rising supply from OPEC+ and non-OPEC+ producers, slowing demand growth post-summer, and uncertainties from U.S. trade policies. Major…

Ad

By The New Diplomat Intelligence deskĀ 

Following industrial action threats from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the parents under the auspices of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) have called on the Federal government to immediately weigh in on the matter and stop the planned closure of universities across the country.

The students appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to listen to the demands of ASUU to the proposed nationwide strike.

According to NANS, the planned industrial action is unacceptable and is capable of causing problems in the country.

The National President of NANS, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, who spoke with the press noted that students were always bearing the brunt in cases of industrial actions by university workers.

He said: ā€œThe government should listen to the lecturers and university workers generally. Some of the things the lecturers are complaining about are genuine.

ā€œLook at the issue of the composition of Governing Councils for higher institutions in the country, many people who have no job being put into such positions were included. Such sensitive positions should be for technocrats in the education sector and academicians.

ā€œWhy would the government not honour an agreement it willingly entered into? Honour an agreement you signed.

ā€œHowever, I would appeal to ASUU members to also give room for mediation and negotiation because, in the long run, all parties would still come to the table to talk. Let the parties give room for negotiation and mediation. Students are always at the receiving end of such fight between the sides and nobody wants to waste his or her precious time,ā€ he said.

Also, the Deputy National President of NAPTAN, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, who spoke with the press wondered why the government has yet to honour its promise to the workers.

According to Ogunbanjo, the incessant closure of universities is one of the reasons the schools are not faring well in global rankings.

He said: ā€œThe government should pay them and fulfil their obligations. When they went on strike the other time, part of what was agreed to make the workers suspend their action was that nobody would be victimized on account of the strike.

ā€œSo, if you are not paying them their dues, are you not victimizing the workers? If ASUU goes on strike, SSANU and NASU do so, the university system would collapse. The other time parents had to keep their children at home for about a session, which is not good for the system.

ā€œLook at the recent global ranking of universities, the best-ranked university in the country was in about 1,000th position. All these incessant strikes are parts of the poor ranking of our universities. Government should just be alive to its responsibilities and avert another round of industrial disharmony, ā€ he noted.

The New Diplomat reports that ASUU had recently announced that it is in talks with its various zones across the country on the planned nationwide strike action.

The union across various branches issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government over some outstanding demands.

The core issues that pertain to the condition of service include all the contending issues as contained in the FGN/ASUU MoU 2012/2013, and the MoA of 2017, the Illegal dissolution of Governing Councils in the Federal and State Universities, the release of three and a half months of the outstanding three and a half months withheld salaries for a work that was already done.

Ad

X whatsapp