The National Association of Nigerian Students has appealed to both the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to resolve their differences and avoid any situation that could lead to another strike action.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the National President of NANS, Lucky Emonefe, expressed concern over the potential disruption to students’ education as a result of ASUU’s threat to down tools.

Emonefe urged both parties to find a common ground and avert any industrial action similar to that of 2021 that forced students to stay at home for over eight months.

He stated that students always bore the brunt of the conflicts between the Federal Government and ASUU.

According to him, industrial actions result in students wasting time that could have been better spent on their academic pursuits.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government to always listen to ASUU. ASUU members are like fathers to us in the academic system. Their welfare is very important to us. If they are well taken care of, they will be able to pass on knowledge effectively to the students,” he pleaded.

He noted that while President Bola Tinubu had often promised to ensure that academic years run on schedule, ASUU also needed to consider the interests of students in its decision-making processes.

Emonefe’s plea reflects a growing concern among students who are afraid of the looming strike action by ASUU.

However, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with our correspondent, stated that the union remained firm in its position.

Osodeke revealed that a meeting between the government’s newly reconstituted committee and ASUU was expected to take place this week.

He said, “We are expecting to meet this week, but a day has not been fixed yet. Once we receive the report from the sub-committee, we will finalise the date for the full meeting.”