The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to urgently address the looming threat of another strike, citing the devastating consequences on students’ academic, psychological, and emotional well-being.

Comrade Meshach Anthony Nwakwo, NAUS National Deputy President, in a statement emphasizing the need for constructive engagement and meaningful dialogue to prevent the strike.

Nwakwo acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student-friendly stance and commitment to education, highlighted by initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the distribution of CNG buses for transportation.

He, however, stressed that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the strikes, including poor remuneration, lack of university autonomy, and inadequate funding.

The Federal Government must invest more in education, as it is tantamount to investing in Nigeria’s future,” Nwakwo urged. “We implore ASUU to reopen channels of dialogue with the government, and for both parties to make meaningful concessions to avert this impending disruption.”

NAUS has pledged to engage productively with the Federal Government and ASUU leadership to prevent another debilitating strike.

The association has also called on the government to prioritize education in the national budget, allocating a minimum of 15% of the budget to the education sector.