NANS suspends planned protest, expects end to ASUU strike

Estimated reading time: 5 minute(s)

Solabomi shoaga

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has temporarily suspended its planned nationwide mass protest.

The mass protest which was expected to last for one week, was scheduled for Tuesday 24th November to Friday 27th November, 2020 across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The association had threatened a mass protest at the expiration of a 14-days ultimatum over the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

ASUU had been on strike since March, 2020 over disagreement with the federal government on payment modalities and other issues.

After months of negotiations, the federal government recently shifted its ground regarding enrolling members of ASUU on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Meanwhile, the NANS President, Chidi Ilogebe, in a press statement released on Tuesday, has announced the temporary suspension of the planned protest.

Ilogebe commended the federal government for making concessions to ASUU. He also appreciated the academic union for meeting an agreement with the FG.

“We appreciate the Federal Government decision to shift grounds on numerous issues which has led to ASSU’s considerations to suspend strike, most critically the Federal Government’s decision to pay salary arrears with the old payment method and the subsequent addition of 15bn for the University revitalization fund.

“This which has yielded to the hopeful resumption expected after ASUU’s reach out to her various chapters on Friday.

Ilogebe further appealed to the Federal Government to consider other demands of the union for the sake of the students.

He threatened that if the strike continues, the students would take to the streets to protest.