The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Nasarawa State Government to intervene immediately and pay the outstanding arrears owed to staff of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), so that the current strike can end and academic activities can resume.
The NSUK chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike on 10 August over unpaid entitlements reportedly running into billions of naira.
The National Treasurer of NANS, Idris Omeiza, made the call on Tuesday during an engagement between the leadership of the students’ association and the management of NSUK, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, at the university campus.
Omeiza acknowledged the frustration of students over the prolonged disruption of academic activities but urged them to remain calm, patient and peaceful while consultations continue to end the strike.
“We call on the Government of Nasarawa State, as a matter of urgency, to intervene and settle the outstanding arrears owed to university staff in order to facilitate the resolution of the industrial dispute and enable students to return to campus,” the NANS Treasurer said.
She further reiterated the association’s commitment to protecting the interests and welfare of students while pursuing a peaceful and lasting resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting followed the NSUK Vice-Chancellor’s appeal to NANS to help calm students and discourage a planned protest over the prolonged disruption.
Earlier, while addressing the delegation, the VC, Prof. Liman, assured that the university management and the Academic Staff Union of Universities had reached an understanding on the payment of outstanding staff arrears.
She expressed optimism that the government would settle the obligations to enable full resumption.
“Efforts will be intensified to ensure that students are called back to campus to resume academic activities and continue their session. I appeal to students to remain patient and embrace dialogue while the issues are being resolved,” she said.
In her response, Omeiza reaffirmed NANS’ commitment to dialogue and peaceful engagement, stressing the association’s “Three Cs” principle: Consultation, Consolidation and Communication before Confrontation.
“As a product of Nasarawa State University, I remain deeply concerned about the welfare, safety and academic progress of students. I will not support any action that unnecessarily puts them at risk,” she stated.
She also commended the Vice-Chancellor for her developmental strides and for providing a conducive learning environment that has placed NSUK among the best state universities in Nigeria.
Also present at the meeting, the Divisional Police Officer of Angwan Lambu Police Station urged students to channel their grievances through peaceful and lawful means, while the Director, Department of State Services, Keffi, emphasised the need for student leaders to consider the security implications of mass gatherings and prevent the hijacking of legitimate concerns by persons with ulterior motives.
Our correspondent further reports that the National Treasurer of NANS, Idris Asmawu Omeiza, attended the meeting with other student stakeholders from across Nasarawa State.
