The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has the support of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in its protests against the ongoing ASUU strike as well as its demands to the federal government.
In an interview with newsmen, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, national president of ASUU, praised the students for standing up for their rights.
We applaud NANS members for standing up for their rights, he said. Their right to do so. Also performing well are the pro-chancellors. Because they (pro-chancellors) are aware of what is going on in Nigerian universities, we hope the government would pay attention to them, he added.
The ASUU president added that the union will meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Tuesday.
The NANS protest comes on the heels of the ongoing strike by the members of ASUU.
NANS had hinted on Sunday that it will ground major highways including the Lagos international airports on Monday (today).
The student body coordinator, Zone D, Adegboye Olatunji, who confirmed the development noted that the Lagos airport would be the first among the airports to be grounded by the students.
“The Lagos airport will be grounded on Monday (today). All we want is for the government to answer us. We want an end to the strike,” he stated.
Meanwhile, men of the Lagos State Police Command, Lagos Airport Police Command may be spoiling for a showdown as the students ground the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos today (Monday).
The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin said, “Speaking from a position of confidence, everything is intact, and there is no threat on the airport or the airspace.
“However, the protesters who issued the threat are free to come out and see what awaits them. We, however, urge law-abiding Lagosians to go about their lawful duties without fear of intimidation or harassment.”
The airport police command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Ojelade, also said, “Our men have been on standby since Friday, so nobody is folding arms to watch the students disrupt aviation activities.
“They can’t enter the airport; they can only block the entrance to the airport. Whoever is travelling will know how to bypass them and enter the airport. No airline is on strike, so, they will attend to their passengers. Nobody can ground flight operations, they have been warned.”