The National Association of Nigerian Students has demanded the sacking of the Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu over the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities strike.
ASSU commenced its nationwide strike on February 14 over the adoption of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System of the government as the payment system in the university sector, the poor funding of universities, non-payment of salaries and allowances of some of their colleagues, as well as the inability of the government to pay earned academic allowance to lecturers, among other issues.
Punch Metro reported that President Buhari issued a two-week ultimatum to Adamu on July 19 to resolve the ongoing ASUU strike.
Days after Buhari’s order, NANS joined the two-day nationwide protest organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday, 26th July 2022 and Wednesday 27th July 2022 against the ongoing strike which has since been extended by four weeks on August 1.
However, in a statement released on Wednesday, NANS president, Comrade Sunday Asefon said, “It is therefore abundantly clear that the Minister of Education lacks the capacity required to manage such an important ministry as the Ministry of Education. He has shown over the years his lack of capacity, know-how, and adequate understanding of the complexity of educational management. This development calls to question his qualification to be appointed as minister of education in the first place. His total lack of compassion and empathy for the plight of Nigerian students speak volumes.
“Since he became minister ASUU has gone on strike for almost 18 months cumulatively and the entire educational structure of our tertiary education system is in total shamble under his watch. It is therefore imperative to call on the President to immediately relieve him of his duty in the ministry and bring in a more competent hand, educated, experienced, physically fit, and willing enough to begin the process of salvaging the debris of the collapse of the education system in Nigeria with the hope of rebuilding it.
“NANS under our leadership will leave no stone unturned to ensure that our demands are acceded to, as we will do all that is required to reawaken the spirit of the Ali-Must-Go to ensure that Adamu-Must Go. The nation and well-meaning Nigerians must prevail on the government to fire the minister as this will serve as the only good radiance to the bad rubbish we have witnessed under his leadership of the ministry. ”
