We’ll convert streets to classes if ASUU, FG fail to reconcile within 1 week – Students

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Nigerian students, under the aegis of Coalition of 19 Northern States Presidents of the Students Union Government has threatened to convert streets to classes if the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) fail to resolve their lingering impasse within a one week.
The coalition made the warning at a press conference in Kano state yesterday to read out the outcome of an earlier meeting it held in Jigawa state.
Addressing the conference on behalf of the coalition, Sadi Garba Sa’id, from Bayero University Kano (BUK) said the coalition has unanimously agreed on the review of the ASUU demands, adding that it is giving both parties ultimatum of one week to resolve themselves or “move to the roads and make them our classes.”
According to him, the coalition would not accept any hike in the registration fees, calling on the government to waive the fees because of the pandemic that had caused economic hardship.
“The coalition will not tolerate any form of hike in registration fees or the induction of tuition fees.
“The government should waive registration because of the pandemic which has seriously affected the economic status of students, parents and guardians” they declared.
The group also called for a review of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) age limit as the lingering ASUU strike might have affected the chances of some of the students to participate in the scheme.
“NYSC age limitation should be revised owing to the fact that the ASUU lingering strike and COVID-19 pandemic may have crippled some students’ chances of participating in the scheme” they demanded.
It however condemned the alarming rate of rape and kidnapping cases across the country and therefore called for prompt action by government.
They also demanded that education should be given priority in the country for which they called on the government to also provide quality education in primary and secondary schools as well not only the tertiary.
The coalition further called for the introduction of skills acquisition and internship programs to the students of tertiary institutions across Nigeria while they also called for transparency in respect of federal and state scholarship schemes.