*insist resumption should be before end of October
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
National Association of University Students (NAUS), on Tuesday, tasked the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to fast track resumption of Nigerian students back to school after the prolonged strike, while seeking compensation for funds wasted on off campus accomodation.
Specifically, the students association urged FG and ASUU to ensure that students are back to classrooms before the end of this October.
In a statement by its Executive Chairman, Campus Monitoring Committee, Oyo State Axis, Comrade Shittu Ridwan Adeniyi, NAUS appreciated efforts by stakeholders in putting to rest the prevalent industrial action in the nation’s universities.
NAUS pointed out that for these efforts to have holistic effect, the time has come for the FG and ASUU to come to the rescue of students on some of the hardships facing Nigerian students.
The students listed the hardships as, ” Revision of Academic Curriculum of Tertiary Institution” in Nigeria’s Universities, stressing that, “it is no longer news that Nigeria is regarded as the giant of Africa, yet its current academic curriculum is running short of some essentiality of this dispensation”.
According to the association, “as the saying goes, nothing is constant in life except change. It’s high time students are imbibed into the culture of selfless leadership and active citizenship also, Reviving our Skill Acquisition Centers for the benefit of students in other not to graduate and start seeking what to embark upon after several years on campus”, it said
It stressed further, “in addition, the projects of final year students should be innovations or inventions that can add value and advantage to the institution or the country, other than merely writing or wasting resources and time, We want our Projects to be practical”
Demanding, “amelioration of Students’ Financial Burden”, the association maintained that, “due to the inability of hostels in public tertiary institutions across the country to accommodate all, students are left with no choice than to seek accommodation outside the campus.
” The outcome of a study carried out by our association reveals that tons of students in this category paid their house rents to their landlords a month before the current strike action was declared by ASUU on 14th February of this year.
” The strike has been ongoing for over 6 months, and the expiration of the paid rent keeps drawing near. All efforts made by us to put in words with the landlord have proven abortive as they blame their uncooperative behavior on the economic hardship of the country. In light of that, we want the government to make arrangements for a bursary or reduction of tuition for a semester to serve as compensation to students and parents on or before resumption”.
NAUS stressed further that there is the need for ” the abolishing of the acceptance fee in our Institutions, as ” this payment is not logical at all considering the economic hardship of the country after all the money spent in processing admission moreover if students are not interested in a particular institution will he or she applied in the first instance? Acceptance fees should be abolished in our institutions”.
” The Umbrella body of all University Students (NAUS) hereby writes to register our demands with the government. Firstly, we seize this opportunity to appreciate all authorities who have contributed towards putting to rest the prevalent industrial action, which has been militating against the successful running of the country’s educational sector.
” However, for these efforts to have a holistic effect, our association has decided to put forth some of the hardships facing Nigerian students.Here are our demands :
*Fast-tracking of Resumption Proceeding
*Eligibility of Service:*
*Revision of Academic Curriculum of Tertiary Institution
*Amelioration of Students’ Financial Burden
The Abolishing of the Acceptance fee in Our Institutions
NAUS stressed, “we look forward to seeing the government attending to our demands as a matter of urgency, The country that fails to give its people qualitative education will suffer from societal advancement slough”.
