The national leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the staff, both academic and non-academic, to engage in dialogue rather than embarking on strikes, News About Nigeria reports.
The National President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, made this appeal in a statement on Monday, condemning the strike by a section of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Abuja branch.
He noted that the lack of sensitivity and regard for students, parents, and the educational system is unacceptable and is not expected from a supposed union of intellectuals, adding that it is saddening that ASUU always ignores the interests and plight of Nigerian students and parents before opting for their actions.
Emonefe maintained that strike actions in universities have no positive impact and never address any problems but rather disrupt, derail, and destroy.
He lamented that the country’s university system has lost at least 16 months to ASUU strikes between 2020 and 2023, stressing that it is not a good look at the educational system of Nigeria.
“Our position is that gone are 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 regard 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,” he stated.
Emonefe also condemned the attitude of ASUU to embark on strikes when other options for dispute resolution are open for consideration.
