By Oludamisi Ojo.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has directed university students across the nation to back the solidarity protest planned by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

NANS faulted the lingering strike of over four months embarked upon by ASUU over unpaid benefits and other unhonoured agreements.

It described the NLC’s planned solidarity protest as an appropriate action that would add serious traction to efforts being intensified to end the logjam.

Insecurity: On-going trial census hitch-free in Kaduna – official

The NLC National President, Com. Ayuba Wabba and the Central Working Committee of the labour union had last week unanimously agreed to join ASUU in solidarity strike to end the strike for reopening of the nation’s public universities.

The Students body hailed the NLC’s action, describing it as a right step in the right direction.

The NANS’ National President, Sunday Asefon, in a statement in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, assured that students would mobilise for the success of the protest.

Asefon said the closure of the country’s public universitities in the last four months had done incalculable damage to the country’s future and image in the eye of the international community.

The NANS leader added that it sounds so disturbing that students, who were to be engaged in academic work are now predisposed to all manners of criminalities due to the closure.

Asefon said: “On behalf of members of NANS, I wish to commend the National Leadership of the NLC for their steadfastness and commitment to join forces with well-meaning Nigerians to advocate for the end of the protracted ASUU Strike.

Senate confirms Yahaya as Co-Chairman, Governing Council of Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund

“While NANS has organised a various protests in the past with no substantial results, also our advocacy and consultation have not yielded any desirable result. We have activated a political solution and we are very hopeful that an end is in the purview.

“However, we are in total support of the planned protest by NLC as we believe this will stem up the advocacy and assist in no mean measure to put adequate pressure on the Federal Government to do all that is required to stop the strike.

He directed all NANS structures across the country to mobilize and join the NLC protest stressing that “NANS will only be involved in the mobilization of students to the protest sites and will act based on the direction provided by the NLC”.