TheCable

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B has given the Bayelsa state government a seven-day ultimatum to meet the demands of university lecturers in order to avoid sealing government house in the state.

Lecturers in the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) have been on strike for over two months over the non-payment of five months salaries and the inability of government to meet their demands.

Lamenting the effect of the industrial action on students, NANS asked the government to act before the ultimatum elapses.

“NANS frowns at the continued stay at home of our fellow students of Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island through no fault of theirs,” Pedro Obi, coordinator, NANS zone B, said in a statement.

“It is on record that these lecturers are being owed over five months salaries by the state government, and the question is, how do you expect these lecturers to cope with the current economic situation in the country without salary?

“The failure of Bayelsa state government  to prioritise education is a source of concern to NANS and therefore demand a change of attitude by the government.”

Obi accused the government of using hoodlums to harass students who staged a protest in solidarity with their lecturers.

He expressed sadness that while many institutions across the country are about to round off academic exercise for the session, students of NDU have not written their first semester examination.

“Bayelsa state government in tacit demonstration of their non-sensitiveness to university education, mobilised hoodlums to attack the Student Union Government President of Niger Delta University, Comr. Ekiye who led the students of the University to protest against the unnecessary stay at home by the students, these hoodlums equally stole the properties belonging to SUG president and the students,” he said.

“It is sheer wickedness for the government of Bayelsa State to be watching while the institution is yet to write her first semester examination for 2015/2016 academic session, while most institutions in the country are rounding off their academic session.

“NANS condemns this barbaric act by agents of the state and hereby give the government seven Days to resolve with ASUU-NDU Chapter in order to get our students back on campus or NANS will lock down the government house and ground all economic activities in the state.”