The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on state governors to urgently fulfil their obligations under the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to prevent another disruption of academic activities across the country.
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The appeal followed ASUU’s decision to authorise 20 affected university branches to issue 14-day ultimatums over the alleged failure to implement key aspects of the agreement. The development has already resulted in industrial action at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, where the university’s ASUU branch has commenced a strike.
NANS President, Akinteye Afeez, acknowledged the right of university lecturers to demand the implementation of agreements reached with government but urged ASUU to ensure that students do not become victims of the dispute.
The students’ body noted that repeated strikes have caused prolonged academic disruptions, delayed graduation and extended students’ programmes, while also creating serious psychological and educational challenges.
NANS therefore appealed to ASUU to direct its engagement towards the state governments and institutions responsible for the outstanding obligations rather than shutting down universities.
The association also issued a strong warning to governors, saying that allowing avoidable industrial action to cripple universities in their states would amount to a failure of responsibility.
It urged all state governments with affected universities to immediately honour their commitments under the 2025 agreement and resolve outstanding issues involving academic staff.
NANS stressed that students should not be forced out of classrooms because of administrative failures, urging governors to make the interests of students a priority in resolving the dispute.
The association further reaffirmed its willingness to engage constructively with ASUU, the Federal Government and university managements in order to protect uninterrupted academic activities.
NANS maintained that Nigerian students deserve a stable university system where disputes between governments and academic unions do not repeatedly disrupt their education.
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