The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve their lingering dispute and avert another strike that could disrupt academic activities across universities.
NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed deep concern over the growing tension between the two parties, warning that any disruption to the academic calendar would be “unacceptable to Nigerian students.”
Oladoja noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the education sector had witnessed two uninterrupted academic years — a rare stability not seen since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999.
However, he cautioned that ASUU’s recent threat of industrial action was jeopardising the progress achieved so far.“It is, therefore, in this spirit that NANS appeals to both ASUU and the Federal Government’s negotiation team to find a workable and lasting solution within the next seven (7) days,” the statement read.
“Nigerian students, many of whom are now studying through educational loans, cannot afford to have their academic calendar disrupted or their duration on campus extended again.”
The NANS President urged both the government and the lecturers’ union to prioritise the interests of students and the nation, rather than personal or institutional concerns.
He stressed that maintaining a stable academic calendar was essential to national development, productivity, and the restoration of public confidence in Nigeria’s higher education system.
Oladoja added that NANS would not hesitate to take decisive action if the parties failed to reach an agreement within the ultimatum period.
“Students have endured enough in the past. Any attempt to plunge the universities into another round of strike will be met with strong resistance,” he warned.
The students’ body expressed optimism that dialogue would prevail, allowing academic activities to continue uninterrupted across the country’s tertiary institutions.
