The National Association of Nigerian Students has called on state governors to step in quickly and prevent another shutdown of public universities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NANS said undergraduates must not be forced to pay for disagreements between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and government.
The group warned that any new closure of campuses would add to the academic delays, emotional stress and financial pressure already faced by millions of students nationwide.
NANS was responding to ASUU’s decision to allow 20 university branches to issue 14-day strike notices over parts of the 2025 agreement with the Federal Government that are yet to be met. With those notices now active, the possibility of industrial action is getting closer.
The effect is already being felt. Teaching and learning have been halted at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, sparking fears that the academic calendar could be disrupted again.
NANS President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, said lecturers deserve to have agreements honoured. However, he urged ASUU not to let students become collateral damage.
“Our members have suffered enough setbacks,” Afeez said. “Programs have been extended, graduations postponed, and many students are struggling mentally. This cycle must end.”
The student body put the ball in the court of state governments, particularly where the unresolved parts of the 2025 deal involve state universities. NANS argued that governors should act now rather than allow bad management to cripple higher education.
It described any governor who allows an avoidable strike to shut schools despite increased federal allocations as “unfit and irresponsible.”
According to the association, such failure shows a “blatant lack of concern” for students and staff, and reflects a serious neglect of responsibility.
NANS is demanding that governors with affected institutions move immediately to address the outstanding issues and pay qualified lecturers what they are owed.
The association also said it would resist any move to make students suffer for what it termed the “recklessness, inefficiency and indifference” of some state authorities.
“Students should not be sent home because state governments failed to meet their obligations,” the statement added. “We were not part of these agreements, yet we keep bearing the pain.”
NANS further appealed to ASUU leadership to hold back from actions that could close universities, and instead keep pushing the governments and school administrations responsible for the debts.
“The lecture hall should never be where students suffer for government mistakes,” NANS stated.
In spite of the brewing crisis, the association said it will continue talks with ASUU, the Federal Government and university managements to protect an uninterrupted academic session for Nigerian students.