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  • ASUU Strike: We’ll Block All Roads Linking To Abuja – NANS

    ASUU Strike: We’ll Block All Roads Linking To Abuja – NANS

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to block all roads to Abuja if the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s strike is not called off.

    The association said that it will also match the Abuja streets on Monday to protest against the strike action by ASUU.

    Speaking to BBC Hausa on Tuesday, the vice president of the union, Yazid Tanko Muhammad, said the protest had become necessary in order to rescue the educational system of the country from incessant strike actions.

    He said: “The reason we choose to embark on a protest is that it is the only language that can be understood and it is the only way we can show the world our situations and feelings towards the strike.

    “So, it is a protest which if we start, will not stop until the issues are resolved and the lecturers resume work.

    “So we will block the roads linking Abuja from Kogi, Abuja from Kaduna and Abuja from Nasarawa states.

    “That means we will block the whole Abuja on that day. We will also block the Federal Secretariat.

    “That is why we are calling on Mr President to show concern and solidarity to us by not attending to work on that day.

    “He should please remain at home. Since everyone is a student, either a Minister, Senator, House of representatives member they were all students before they reached the level they are now.

    “So, we are doing this because of the future of our education and the country.

    “We can’t just stay at home and watch. No country in the world can go on strike for a whole month without any concrete reasons like a pandemic or similar things.”

    He said the protest will involve students, parents and civil servants who will join them to tell the world the situation they are facing in the country with regards to their education.

  • NANS Gives FG One-Week Ultimatum To Resolve ASUU Strike

    The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve its disagreement with the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) or face a national mass action by Nigerian students across the country.

    President of the student’s association, Sunday Adedayo, revealed this on Monday, in Sokoto shortly after signing the reviewed Constitution of the association at the Sokoto State Government House.

    “The Nigerian students have concluded and given the mandate that if the Federal Government and ASUU do not resolve this between today and Friday, Nigerian students should mobilise and give the language the government understands.

    “A day of national mass action has been fixed – February 28, which is next week Monday. Every Nigerian student that the ASUU strike has sent home should block all the Federal roads and the office of the Minister of Education and the office of the Minister of Labour should also be blocked. If Nigerian students are at home, office of the Minister of Education and Minister of Labour cannot be opened,” the NANS President said.

    He described as unfortunate the attitude of the Federal Government who he accused of playing hide and seek with ASUU since 1999 when they signed the agreement with the academic union.

    He lamented that the government has bastardised the education system at the primary and secondary level and NANS is not going to open its eyes and watch the government destroy the tertiary education.

    NANS is in Sokoto for its constitutional review conference where the association reviewed its forty years Constitution at the Sokoto State University.

    The reviewed Constitution was signed at the Sokoto State Government House in the presence of Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    Speaking earlier, Governor Tambuwal appealed to ASUU to find a way of resolving their disagreement without embarking on strike.

    Governor Tambuwal also called on the Federal Government to find a way of meeting the demands of ASUU despite the fact the country is facing economic challenges.

  • NANS threatens nationwide protest as ASUU declares fresh strike

    NANS threatens nationwide protest as ASUU declares fresh strike

    The National Association of Nigerian Students on Monday condemned the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    NANS President, Asefon Sunday, in a statement, expressed “great disappointment” at the “comprehensive and total” four-week strike declared by ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday.

    Asefon slammed the Federal Government and the ASUU leadership for failure to resolve their issues amicably without resort to strike.

    He also said Nigerian students will stage a nationwide protest to demonstrate their dissatisfaction.

    Recall Daybreak had earlier reported that Osodeke at a press conference on Monday said ASUU National Executive Council resolved to embark on the strike as the government has failed to implement the Memorandum of Action it signed with the ASUU in December 2020.

    But in the statement titled, ‘ASUU Warning Strike: A Reckless Irresponsibility’, signed by the NANS President, Asefon said, “We have received the news of the decision of ASUU to embark on a month warning strike with great disappointment. We have thought ASUU and FG represented by top executives would allow reason to prevail, reached compromise, act responsibly in the interest of the education sector and indeed Nigeria, to do all that is required to responsibly avert this avoidable strike.

    “We are appalled by the impunity, recklessness, and irresponsibility the managers of this negotiation from both sides of the table has managed the fragile situation allowing it to degenerate to the level of industrial action. We are therefore compelled to believe that negotiators from both sides acted so irresponsibly because of their apathy of the interest and welfare of the major stakeholder of the sector(students) during the negotiations.

    “We are equally disappointed at the government for not doing everything possible to avert this embarrassment. We are also disappointed with the ASUU for reaching this conclusion irrespective of the implications to the students, academic calendar, research they claim to love, national security, and sanity. The Government and ASUU by this action sent a direct message to Nigerian students to also take positions comfortable for our side of the table irrespective of the implications. Let me say equivocally that we will respond in clear language, the language the oppressors understand.

    “I passionately appeal to all students leaders, NANS structures, and organs across the nation to mobilize to our national non-elective congress on the 17th of February where far-reaching decisions shall be made on our collective response to this blatant lack of patriotism, human feelings, and feelings for the collective future of education in Nigeria.

    “Our decisions shall be decisive, collective, and irreversible until the strike is called off. We shall fight this impunity and recklessness without any consideration other than an immediate end to this strike.

    “We, therefore, inform the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, to expect us in our numbers, and ASUU should be ready to return to the table to end this avoidable, reckless and repugnant strike. Let me assure the Minister of Labour that our protest in his office today is introductory and child play in what is yet to come. We are resolute more than before to ensure we hold government, especially the ministry of labour responsible for these incessant strike actions.

    “Further negotiations should as a matter of urgency have students representative as part of the parties to allow balance in decisions that are capable of impairing the lives of students and derailing their progress. The contentions and issues are triangular and must be treated so, going forward.”

    ASUU had embarked on a nine-month-long strike in 2020 and called it off after a lot of foot-dragging by both the government and the lecturers.

  • NANS meets Gumi, seeks release of abducted Student

    NANS meets Gumi, seeks release of abducted Student

    The National Association of Nigerian Students has said it met with controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, to seek the release of hundreds of abducted students all over the country.

    NANS President, Sunday Asefon, made this known in a statement on Monday titled, ‘Safe And Secure School; NANS Meets Sheik Gumi’.

    Asefon said, “I led the leadership of NANS to meet with Sheik Ahmed Gumi in Kaduna yesterday (Sunday). Our discussion centred on actions and efforts to ensure the safety and security of Nigerian students on all campuses and the release of innocent students in the captivity of their abductors.

    “We extracted commitment on continuous dialogue for the release of students in captivity and all-round efforts to ensure schools become safer so that our students can be free from the fear and trauma of kidnapping.

    “We must leave no stone unturned until our schools are free again. We will continue to engage and dialogue with stakeholders to ensure school safety.”

    Gumi has been seen hobnobbing with bandits and kidnappers while calling on the government to also grant them blanket amnesty. The cleric, who said bandits are fighting an ethnic war, also recently recommended the establishment of special courts to try bandits and kidnappers but many Nigerians have since flayed the cleric for being complicitous with the bandits.

    Gumi came to prominence as the abduction of students rose across the country. Non-state actors had in the past abducted hundreds of students from Kagara, Niger State; Kankara in Katsina; Jangebe in Zamfara State; Chibok, in Borno State; and Dapchi in Yobe State, amongst other mass and sad abductions.

    Recently, gun-wielding bandits abducted over 200 pupils from an Islamiyya school located at Tegina in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

    Bandits have also abducted scores of students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka; as well as Greenfield University, both in Kaduna State. While some of the students were released after millions of ransom were paid, some students didn’t make it out alive.

    Kidnapping has become a sordid menace and a lucrative ‘enterprise’ in Nigeria as the West African nation’s security situation worsens.

    Aside from the kidnapping of students from schools, hundreds of Nigerians have also fallen victims to kidnappers in recent times and their families have had to part with millions of naira to secure their release after days or even weeks of excruciating pains and agony. Some families have not been so lucky, however, as the daredevil kidnappers rape and kill their victims even after receiving ransom.

    Aside from the payment of ransom, the condemnable venture feeds a growing illicit trade in illegal organ trafficking. Kidnappers also sometimes use their victims for ritual purpose.

    The Senate has proposed a bill seeking to prohibit the payment and receipt of ransom for the release of any person kidnapped, imprisoned or wrongfully confined.

    According to the bill, Nigerians who pay ransom to kidnappers and kidnappers who receive ransom risk 15 years imprisonment.

    But many Nigerians including human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, have flayed the upper chamber and described the bill as stupid. They noted that the National Assembly should instead focus on ensuring they make laws that guarantee adequate security for every Nigerian.

  • Osun NANS makes U-turn, joins #June12protest in Osogbo

    Osun NANS makes U-turn, joins #June12protest in Osogbo

    The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has made a u-turn on its initial decision ordering members to boycott the June 12 nationwide protest.

    The Osun State chapter of the association joined the nationwide protest in Osogbo, the state capital, on Saturday.

    Recall that NANS president, Sunday Asefon, in a statement on Friday suspended its planned June 12 nationwide protest.

    However, the coalition of civil society in Osun commenced a massive rally against insecurity and unemployment in Nigeria.

    The Chairman of NANS JCI in Osun State, Comrade Oyelayo Afeez, led its members en masse to Oke-Fia.

    Speaking, Afeez said the situation of the country is unbearable to live in.

  • Insecurity: NANS declares June 12 National day of protest

    Insecurity: NANS declares June 12 National day of protest

    The President, National Association of Nigerian Students, Sunday Asefon, on Tuesday, lamented the worsening insecurity in the country and the ripple effects on students who fell victim to kidnapping and banditry at will.

    Asefon, who bemoaned the kidnap of over 200 students of Islamiyya School in Rafi Council area of Niger State, said NANS had relocated its national headquarters to the North Central State pending when the students would be released, adding, “Nigerians have to come together to see what can be done on the issue of insecurity”.

    The NANS boss, who spoke in a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti, unveiled the students’ body’s national plan to ensure they played their part in ensuring a safer school, including the declaration of days for prayer and protest.

    He said, “I hereby declare 11th June as the national students’ day of prayers. Prayers shall be offered for the repose of our students who have died in the hands of kidnappers. Prayers shall be held for the safe return of our students who are still with their kidnappers.

    “I hereby declare June 12, 2021, as the National Day of Peaceful Protest to call on the government to act decisively towards addressing insecurity in our schools, campuses and also announce a proactive measure or strategy towards ensuring safer schools.”

    Asefon, while responding to a question on the choice of Democracy Day (June 12) for students’ protest, queried, “What are we celebrating as democracy when many of our students are in kidnappers’ den?

    “What are we celebrating when people are not at peace, when insecurity is threatening our existence when killings and banditry are the order of the day? Democracy is about people, but what are we celebrating as democracy day when the people are being killed?”

  • Insecurity: NANS threatens to shut down Nigeria over students’ abduction

    Insecurity: NANS threatens to shut down Nigeria over students’ abduction

    The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has threatened to shut down the country following the upsurge in insecurity and the constant kidnap of students.

    The NANS senate president, Comrade Chuks Okafor who made this known while addressing journalists in Awka said Nigerian students would no longer watch while their mates are abducted from schools.

    Okafor lamented that no fewer than 100 students have either lost their lives or were abducted in recent times, worrying that nothing was being done by the government to put an end to the unfortunate situation.

    “Nigeria, as we speak is at crossroads. We demand that our leaders irrespective of political leanings, come together and project solutions on how to solve the issue of insecurity or we won’t be left with any option but to shut down the country.

    “Recent attacks have taken place in Greenfield University, Kaduna State, where over 40 students were kidnapped and about five of them killed, National College of Forestry where over 29 students were kidnapped and the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, to mention but a few.

    “We, therefore, call on the government to commence immediate proactive and pragmatic actions in other to restore the confidence of students on campuses and salvage the insecurity situation in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria is gently navigating into a ‘stateless’ society where people’s lives are constantly at risk and we believe that if concerted efforts are taken now, the country will come out of these challenges better,” he said.

  • NANS backs NDLEA drug test for students

    NANS backs NDLEA drug test for students

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has supported the policy proposal by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for students to undergo drug integrity test before admission into the University.

    NANS President, Asefon Sunday Daye, backed the initiative during a solidarity visit to the new Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Brig-Gen Buba Marwa, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Daye said NANS supports drug test policy, as drug abuse had done more harm than good to the Nigerian students.

    “We don’t want Nigerian students to continue to die of drugs.

    “This initiative will not only prevent but would encourage students to stop the habit, knowing that the authorities would detect it.

    “From your antecedents, we can go to bed with our two eyes closed with the assurance that Nigeria is in safe hands, on drug control issues,” Daye said.

    Responding, Marwa applauded NANS for the visit, revealing that the decision to test students for drugs before admission into the university is by no means punitive.

    “Your buying into our drug testing among students is equally encouraging because there have been some objections to the drug testing initiative.

    “But we cannot watch our students use drugs and jump into a well thinking it is a swimming pool.

    “The testing of students is to determine their status early enough and decide the form of intervention to deploy. It is by no means punitive,” he assured.

  • School Reopening: NANS to set up COVID-19 task force in all Institutions

    School Reopening: NANS to set up COVID-19 task force in all Institutions

    The National Association of Nigerian Students has urged the Federal Government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to resume academic activities at the nation’s public universities.

    The students’ body also ordered its chapters in all tertiary institutions to set up COVID-19 task force teams to enforce all guidelines outlined by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and ensure safe reopening of schools.

    NANS President, Sunday Asefon, stated this in a statement made available on Tuesday.

    Recall that we had earlier reported that ASUU, on December 24, 2020, conditionally suspended its nine-month-long strike after a lot of foot-dragging by the union and the Federal Government.

    The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 subsequently ordered schools to remain closed till January 18, 2021 to contain the spike in COVID-19 infections in the country. The National Universities Commission later asked universities to comply with the directive but the PTF on Monday said the January 18 date is subject to review.

    Reacting in its statement, NANS said, “Rather than postpone schools’ resumption, it has become imperative to address the alarming spread of COVID-19 and rising cases of deaths from a position of environmental strategy and human coordination since the lockdown mechanism can no longer be a mitigating option in the face of our economic reality.

    “The federal government is immediately urged to rethink its approach and take only actions that can get more Nigerians into coordinated and regulated systems, like schools and offices, where hours of wearing face masks and complying with COVID Safety protocols can be guaranteed to curb the spread.

    “Consequently, the National Association of Nigerian Students is undertaking to prevail on students union bodies to set up Students Task Force Against COVID-19 in every school, while asking the Federal Government to rejig its basic COVID guidelines for schools resumption.”

  • ASUU Strike: Students will embark on mass protest if ASUU resumes strike –NANS

    ASUU Strike: Students will embark on mass protest if ASUU resumes strike –NANS

    The National Association of Nigerian Students has said its members would embark on a mass protest should the Academic Staff Union of Universities resumes its just suspended strike.

    NANS President, Sunday Asefon, stated this in an exclusive interview with Our correspondents on Thursday.

    He said it is embarrassing and ridiculous for ASUU to threaten fresh strike after wasting the academic time of Nigerian students for nine months.

    Asefon said, “It is a slap on us for ASUU to say they are calling off the strike conditionally. If they call it off conditionally, we will also put on hold our plan to engage the Federal Government and ASUU on mass action. But if they also resume their strike, we will also go to the streets. If that is the only language they understand, we will speak it to them.”

    Daybreak had earlier reported that ASUU National President, Biodun Ogunyemi, on Wednesday in Abuja, “conditionally” suspended its nine-month-long strike after a lot of foot-dragging by the Federal Government and the lecturers.

    Ogunyemi, who said the suspension of the strike takes effect from Thursday, December 24th, 2020, had also warned that the union would resume the industrial action without notice if the government fails in meeting its part of the agreement.

    Details later…