The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has said that recent gains recorded in the education sector by the President Bola Tinubu administration may be eroded if the ongoing industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is not halted.

In a statement titled “After Two Years of Uninterrupted Academic Calendar: What Went Wrong?” which was issued by NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, the students’ body expressed concern over the growing tension between the government and ASUU, warning that any disruption to the academic calendar would be unacceptable to Nigerian students.

He emphasized that the education sector had enjoyed two uninterrupted academic years under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration, a feat not recorded since the return to democracy in 1999.

Oladoja also noted that “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, several bold and student-centered policies have been introduced to reposition education and improve the welfare of both students and academic staff. These include: Establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to ensure that no Nigerian student is denied education due to financial constraints.

“Removal of tertiary institution staff unions from the IPPIS platform, thereby resolving long-standing administrative bottlenecks affecting salary and promotion processing.

“Reversal of the 40% IGR remittance policy, granting universities greater financial autonomy and flexibility to manage their internally generated resources.

“Special intervention funding through TETFund for massive infrastructure upgrades, campus perimeter fencing, and improved security across tertiary institutions.

He, however, said the recent threat of industrial action by ASUU was jeopardising this progress.