The National Association of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students (NANCES) has issued a 14-Day ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve the lingering strike issues with Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) or risk nationwide mass protest.
Comrade Habibu lamented that College of Education Lecturers have been on a warning strike since 14th of June, 2022, without any show of concern from the Government to look into demands.
He described the silence of the Federal Government over the industrial actions by the College of Education Academic Staff Union as an organized crime against students’ career and educational pursuits.
Comrade Habibu therefore called on the government to deploy necessary fund for complete over hauling of colleges of education sector and total revitalization of teachers education in Nigeria, considering the importance of Education in nation building.
He said: “NANCES leadership has emphatically mourn and sorrowfully shared the grievance with students who are idle doing nothing loosing time, material and resources while both Government and COEASU lose nothing in respect to salaries, promotions and other remuneration at the end of every strike actions.
“But, students are the greatest losers as their careers are delayed, years stay on Campus extended, House Rent/Hostel Fee Incurred, Federal/State Job age requirement exceeded among other negative effects and impacts on general life plan of innocent Nigerian colleges of education students…we want to categorically state it clear that the students are tired of this continuous strike and we don’t want to be pushed to the wall,” Habibu said.
The students further called on the federal Government to immediately implement the 50,000 naira bursary allocation approved by the current Government as an appreciation and encouragement for all teachers in making and N70,000 for education students.
They equally called for the compulsory engagement of the NCE students to into Federal Teachers Scheme (FTS) as they are the renowned, trained and qualified teachers for basic and secondary education.
Part of the demands of the striking lecturers’ include, Review of Federal College of Education act 1986 and 1993; Rejection of IPPIS, implementation of 2010 Federal Government and COEASU agreement; and release of N15 billion revitalization fund among many others.
