President Muhammadu Buhari is being charged by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone, with burying public education in the nation. The association has stated that it is prepared to arrange a funeral for public education.
The students said on Monday that they will be returning to the streets in the coming days in a statement that was jointly signed by their coordinator and spokesman, Adegboye Olatunji and Awoyinfa Opeoluwa, respectively.
“It behooves us to call the attention of the general public and the international community on the brazen insult meted on the mass of Nigerian students by the irresponsible administration of Buhari.
“Without considering the fact that Nigerian university students have been at home for close to eight months as a result of the failure of this administration to meet the demands of striking lecturers and to properly fund education, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, is to be conferred with the National Honour of Commander of the Order of Niger.
“The recognition of patronage on the Minister has not just demystified the sacredness of National Honours, it has further shown to the mass of Nigerian students that this administration does not regard the youths as being critical stakeholders as far as national development is concerned.
“To say that a man under whose watch university students have been at home for close to eight months due to the strike embarked upon by lecturers, got recognised by the President, and to be conferred with a National Honour, is a direct attack on the mass of students,” the NANS statement partly read.
NANS also called on Buhari to take over negotiation with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, and no longer leave it in the hands of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
Reacting further, NANS said, “rather than concentrating on the task of governance, the President is distributing National Honours to different characters, mostly misfits. How can you be honouring people who have made the cost of living so high, and reduced the standard of living?”
“We condemn and reject the National Honours and some of its recipients. We want Nigeria students to be ready for grand mass action on the ASUU strike. We are clear that this government is anti-public education and this is against the yearnings of millions of students and youths.”
