University Students Appeal To Federal Govt To Address Lecturer’s Demands

The National Association of University Students (NAUS), has appealed to the Federal Government to muster political will in addressing lingering demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to forestall another round of industrial action and disruption of academic programmes in Nigerian universities.

National President of NAUS, Comrade Josiah Peter Oche, made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja following the expiration of the one-month window which ASUU gave the government to address its demands or risk full-blown strike action that would ground activities in the University system.

He spoke at a one-day 2025 National Students Leadership and Mentorship Summit, organised by NAUS with the theme, “The Role of University Students in Driving Nigeria’s Entrepreneurial Future.”

He noted that Nigerian students could not afford to go through another prolonged strike with its negative impact on their lives and academics.

The summit held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, was attended by students drawn from some universities across the country, witnessed the official launch of the NAUS Magazine and presentation of various categories of awards to some outstanding students.

Oche said the call becomes imperative as some students have just returned while others preparing to resume for a new academic session.

He said he was aware that both the government and ASUU representatives have been dialoguing, emphasizing that the position of the University students is for amicable resolution where more than 70 per cent of the demands of the Union are met including renegotiation of the contentious 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.

He urged all tiers of government to prioritize students, saying across the world, great nations have been transformed by the ideas, courage, and ingenuity of their students.

“From technology breakthroughs to social movements, from startups to global companies students have consistently been the spark that ignite national progress.

“Our nation is rich not only in resources, but in the unmatched creativity and resilience of its young people. And this year’s theme, ‘The Role of University Students in Driving Nigeria’s Entrepreneurial Future,’ speaks directly to a truth we can no longer overlook: Nigeria’s next chapter will be written by its students,” he stated.

The NAUS President noted that the gathering was a commitment to shaping the future of the nation through innovation, leadership, and enterprise, stressing that university students must rise above ethnic, political, and religious divides, and champion unity, innovation, and national interest.

“With Nigeria’s growing population, rising youth unemployment, and global competition, the responsibility on university students is clear; we must innovate, we must create, and we must build the Nigeria we desire.

“Whether in tech startups, agriculture, renewable energy, creative industries, logistics, engineering, or social enterprise, students must see themselves as builders of the new Nigerian economy,” Oche stated.

The wife of Ooni of Ife, HRM Olori Temitope Morenike Enitan Ogunwusi
who was represented at the summit called on students to demonstrate good leadership by eschewing social vices such as cultism and drug abuse, she noted would negatively impact their lives.