ASUU Strike: We will shut down private universities – Students threaten

The National Association of
Nigerian Students, NANS, has
vowed to shutdown private
universities if the ongoing strike
persists.

The students threatened
yesterday during a protest in
Ado- Ekiti against the protracted
strike of the Academic Staff
Union of Universities, ASUU.

The group, who carried placards
with different inscriptions such
as: We are tired FG, ASUU, Our
leaders are heartless, FG save
our career, etc, condemned the
Federal Government's stance
and vowed to force private
universities across the country
to shutdown if the government
fails to agree to the demands of
the striking lecturers.

NANS also threatened to storm
the Federal Capital Territory,
Abuja, to press home their
demands.

While lamenting that they are
tired of staying at home, the
visibly angry students blasted
President Goodluck Jonathan
over its failure to honour the
agreement it had with ASUU.

Speaking on behalf of his
colleagues, Comrade Asafon
Sunday, who is the Director of
Action and Mobilization of NANS,
South -west, zone, said
"Between 2000 and 2011,
government earned about
N48.48 trillion from the sale of
oil alone, against N3.10 trillion
earned between 1979 and
1999. The Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS) in 2012
financial year alone accrued a
sum of N5.12 trillion as revenue
generated from tax paid by the
masses. With this upsurge in the
revenue at the disposal of the
Nigerian government, one
would have expected such to
translate to commensurate
improvement in the quality of
public education as well as
other social services."