The Progressive Students Movement has called on political parties to consider donating 40 percent of the proceeds from the sale of their forms to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Bestman Okereafor, PSM’s national president, said on Thursday the donations would go a long way in resolving ASUU’s demands and ending the lingering strike at public universities.
The union began a nationwide strike on February 14, 2022 ASUU, further extending it by three months on Monday, May 9.
“In the interest of national development, we strongly believe that donating 40 per cent of proceeds from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to ASUU will immediately see schools reopening,” explained PSM. “This call follows the continued ASUU strike and the failure of the government to yield to its demands as signed in a 2009 agreement, by the then administration even as we understand government is a continuum.”
The PSM’s statement added, “We wish to urge political parties to consider donating 40 per cent of the total proceeds from the sale of forms to ASUU in the best interest of Nigerian students and youths.”
The students’ movement noted that should any political party donate 40 per cent of total proceeds from the sale of forms to ASUU, “such political party or parties will tend to enjoy the massive support and votes of Nigerian students.”
It further explained, “We are aware that some political parties have so far generated over N19 billion from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms. We are optimistic that should such a gesture be offered by political parties, the government will be left with no option other than settling the remaining balance of ASUU demands.”
Nigerian students would no longer tolerate “smooth political activities while our campuses are under lock and key,” warned the PSM.
