NANS’ meeting with Presidency not for students but Buhari’s re-election- Nigerians react
NEWS DIGEST – The meeting held with the national leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday has been tagged a ‘political’ meeting other than the attempt to get ‘striking’ workers’ unions to resume back to work.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike since November 4, 2018 while the Polytechnic lecturers (ASUP) joined on December 12, 2018.
The lecturers are protesting poor funding of universities and the failure of the government to implement an agreement it signed in 2009 with ASUU to improve facilities and enhance staff welfare at the institutions.
The strike, which has left academic activities in the various institutions paralysed is still in force as talks held so far to resolve the dispute have ended in a deadlock.
This newspaper reported that after the closed-door meeting of Thursday, reportedly aimed at finding a lasting solution to the industrial actions, one of the NANS delegates from the University of Abuja said it was a productive meeting.
“The president told us that the current price of crude oil is low and what the country is generating from that will not take care of all that government needs to provide for the people and also pay all the demands of ASUU,” one Mr. Yahuza said.
Meanwhile, in a circulated video from NTA broadcast obtained by this paper, the President of NANS, Bamidele Akpan, spoke on canvassing votes for the re-election of Mr. Buhari in 2019 during the meeting.
“(The students’ constituency) have a large population numbering about 80 million. I can assure you today that if this constituency is well utilized, we’ll pull nothing less than 20 million votes for you,” He said in an address.
The leadership of the student group also seized the opportunity to present a birthday gift to the Mr. Buhari, who celebrated his 76th birthday in December.
“The Executive Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) visited today. The ongoing strike action by ASUU was one of the issues we discussed. The Federal Government is working hard towards a resolution, and we will continue to ask for ASUU’s understanding,” Presidency stated on Thursday evening
However, Nigerians have also expressed their views of the meeting on social media as the topic was one of the trending issues on Friday.
“They basically went there to get money. How can ASUU be on strike and you go celebrate birthday. And some of them will also be shouting Not too young to run. BS!” Adedayo Oluwaseun @MisterDayoSeun tweeted.
Also, in a couple of tweets, senior lecturer, Dr. Dipo @OgbeniDipo expressed disappointment in the group.
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“Why is NANS buying and presenting a birthday card to the President while Universities and Polytechnics are on strike, you might ask. The strike is now in the second month.
Is this the “solidarity forever” y’all activists sing? Is this the “aluta continua” you echo to? Shame.”
David Okosun@ DavidOkosun
This is Nans, the body charged with improving, protecting and defending the interest of students. Students are at home hoping that these bunch of opportunists are going to fight for their interest, instead they are presenting a card for an insignificant birthday.
Ichie Obani @donmekzy
This is how the activists of the days gone by acted. It’s the reason history will forever smile on them. I doff my hat to you sir. Your actions show that the core tenets that upheld the fight against societal ills by NANS was not union imbibed, but individually grown. Kudos.
Former NANS President, Abdul Mahmud @Abdulmahmud01 accused the leadership of the group of ‘betrayal’ and demand that his name be removed from all records and archives of the association.
“As the 8th President of NANS (1990-1992), I ask that my name be removed from all records and archives of the association. I shall issue a formal statement to this effect @NANSNIG.”
“Recall that following the election of Bamidele Akpan President NANS a few months ago, NANS got in touch with me to seek support for his leadership and request for a visit to my office.”
” You subsequently sent me an invitation to your “Save Education Rally” pursuant to the Academic Reform (ACAREF) Programme I launched in March 1991. I declined your requests because I was abroad and still abroad. I promised the association and leadership audience on my return to the country.”
“That promise has now been nullified by the following:
1) the reckless threat issued to ASUU to forcefully eject its members from their homes
2) the ill-advised visit to Aso Rock, at a time students reel under the pain of strikes”
” It is your choice to decide your programmes of action, but the choice does not include threatening ASUU, the historical ally of NANS- alliance that dates back to 1982 nor does it include the visit to @mbuhari, the then dictator who gave Nigerian students bullets when they asked for bread in 1984″
“Recall that in 1984 when @MBuhari attempted to hike tuition fees and hostel fees, withdraw feeding & ban students unionism in higher institutions, NANS resisted him. That year- 1984- NANS, which was 4 years old at the time was banned by @MBuhari and its President, Lanre Arogundade, arrested and locked up in Ife Prison till he was overthrown by IBB in 1985.”
” Only a generation without a sense of history will continue to walk the shamed path you have walked since 1999. You all have the choice to either discover, fulfill, or betray your mission,” He concluded.
Recall that NANS earlier issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government, ASUU and ASUP on December 23, 2018, to call off the strike or face confrontation.
Similarly, the students’ association issued a notice to all NANS structures and organs to commence mobilisation for mass action against the federal government, ASUU and ASUP.
