Minister Dare, NANS President parley on resolution of ASUU strike

In a bid to find a lasting solution to the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Thursday, met with the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Sunday Asefon.

The NANS President in his submission said the student body thought to engage the Minister as students form the core of Youth, under his jurisdiction.

He expressed dissatisfaction that despite government’s efforts, the strike action by the university teachers has lingered for over five months.

He commended the efforts of APC Youth leader, Dayo Isreal, who had intervened in recent times by meeting Ministers of Education and Labour, and representatives of ASUU.

Asefon noted the frustration of NANS engaging both parties in the dispute as they give varying accounts of the issues at stake.

In view of the foregoing, the NANS President appealed to the Minister to use his good offices to facilitate the inclusion of NANS in the negotiation committee parleying with ASUU.

He expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention in recent times, but stressed that any effort will be meaningful to students when the strike is called off.

The Minister is his response stated it was unfortunate that resolution of the crisis has taken longer than expected with its attendant adverse effects on hundreds of thousands of Nigerian students.

Dare expressed hope that with the recent intervention of President Buhari, lingering issues will be resolved.

He urged ASUU to find a middle ground and reach a compromise with government in the interest of students who bear the brunt of the disruption to their academic calender by the protracted strike.

The Minister assured the NANS President of his commitment to continue engaging with his colleagues, the Ministers of Labour and Education, alongside ASUU to reach an amicable resolution in the shortest time possible.

“It is my own desire as the Minister of Youth and Sports to ensure our students return to their campuses soon. I have done some consultations behind the scene, and I appeal to our students to be a bit more patient as government makes concerted efforts to get the compromise that will lead to our universities and campuses reopened. I want to use this meeting to make a strong appeal to ASUU, considering the meetings that have been held, considering the plight of Nigerian Students, to reach some level of compromise and call off the strike,” Dare added.

Aside the NANS President, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader, Dayo Isreal, attended the meeting.