NANS seeks governors intervention to end ASUU strike

Fayemi tasks association on students’ welfare

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to appeal to the Minister of Education, Minister of Labour and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to conclude negotiation so that students could resume school before the end of the year.

The new NANS President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, who made the call yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in Ado-Ekiti, also complained about the reduction in the national budget for education.

Asefon, who disclosed the plan of his association to visit Katsina State over the recent abduction of secondary school students at Kankara, stressed the need to ensure maximum security within and around campuses acrosss the country.

He urged the Federal Government to step up action on containing the insecurity in the country, affirming that the primary purpose of government is protection of life and property.

Fayemi charged the new executives of NANS to focus on championing causes that will improve the standard of education and welfare of students in tertiary institutions, and not be distracted by other sundry interests.

The NGF chairman asked Asefon to consider his responsibility to the students as a priority and strive hard to make significant difference in the life of young people in the country by fulfilling the mission and serving the interest of Nigerian students.

Fayemi, who also pointed out the need to rebrand the image of NANS from the perception as an avenue to achieve selfish aggrandizement, said he was optimistic that Asefon would conduct himself properly in such a way that posterity would be kind to him.

Fayemi said the governors were committed to ensuring that ASUU and the Federal Government meet the deadline of returning students to school before the end of the year.

According to the NGF chairman, the governors are passionate about re-opening the universities, they have been intervening in bringing the lecturers and the Federal Government together even after they had gone apart in their negotiation.