NANS begs university workers to suspend strike, says action unjustifiable
NANS begs university workers to suspend strike. National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) by its President, Com. Sunday Asefon, has warned that the incessant strike action being embarked on by the Academic and the Non-Academic Staff Unions of Universities, has pushed the varsity system to the verge of collapse.
The President (NANS), made known to the Non -Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) that, going on strike less than 30 days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspender theirs, was more devastating rather than advocacy for welfare improvement of the students.
Com. Sunday Asefon, warned that such display of rivalry by unions posed serious danger to the country’s universities
NASU and SSANU had last week began a nationwide industrial action over non-constitution of visitation panels for universities; non-payment of arrears of minimum wage; and inconsistencies in IPPIS payment.
Other issues being highlighted included: non-payment of earned allowances; non-payment of retirement benefits to retirees; poor funding of state universities; delay in renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU 2009 agreements; and teaching staff usurping of headship of non-teaching units in clear violation of conditions of service.
But the President in a statement, on Monday, told news men that: ‘The Incessant Strikes in Nigerian universities and Urgent Need to Save the Nation’s universities, warned that penchant for strike when round table discussion could suffice can the destroy the education system.
HE lamented that Nigerian students should be considered having wasted a one academic session at home to the adverse effect of the covid-19 Pandemic and ASUU’s strike, saying this coming at this point would badly affect students.
“The Association is of the humble opinion that unions can fight for the welfare of their members, but such shouldn’t be by ego, like the way academic and non-academic unions in our varsities have been exhibiting.
“It is unpatriotic on the side of the government and our unions to subject the country’s education system to these academic rigors and agonies. They should please have pity on the students and parents and return to schools as soon as possible.
“We call beg our unions to allow further negotiation with the relevant authorities and suspend the strike in the interest of these promising future leaders,” he stated.
