Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.

Worried by the prolonged closure of Nigerian Universities and Colleges of Education, as a result of the disagreement between the Federal Government, Academic staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), the Students Wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups has threatened to mobilise for a total shut down of government activities.

The students said that parents and Civil Society Organizations will be mobilised to shut down the National and State Assemblies, political party offices, major highways, air ports and railway.

Addressing Journalists on Saturday at the NUJ Press centre in Lokoja , Coordinator of the Kogi state chapter of the Students Wing of the group, Comrade Adams Ayuba, expressed disgust over the unending strike that has lingered for over 5 months with no hope of resolution.

“We are worried particularly, at the closure of these high institutions, which is in its 5th month with no immediate resolution in sight, carries high social, moral, security and economic costs for citizens across the country particularly Northern Nigerian communities.” Comrade Adams Ayuba lamented.

He said that with the closure of Universities and other educational institutions which are hubs of social activity and human interaction, for such indefinite durations, Nigerian youth, especially those of financially distressed families are inadvertently forced to miss out on social contact that is essential to learning and development.

The group observed that the closure of the Universities and Colleges of Education has exposed the children of the poor to violence and exploitation with early marriages, more idle minds recruited into militias, sexual exploitation of girls and young women, teenage pregnancies, and child labour.

The Coordinator of the group noted also that both Government and unions leadership are so unconcerned because their wards are being redirected to foreign institutions as to the disadvantage of the less privileged students.

The Northern students alleged that those in authority have perfected plans for zero educational opportunities for the less privileged, while their children go to schools abroad.

” They appear not to bother because apparently, the impact is particularly severe for the most vulnerable and marginalized boys and girls and their families with the resulting disruptions exacerbating already existing disparities within the education system, and in other aspects of their lives” . The students lamented.

The Students therefore advised the federal government to wake up and be alive to its responsibilities by attending to the needs of the striking unions and Nigerians in General.

It accordingly call on the striking Unions, ASUU, COEASU and others, to make a paradigm shift and innovate or explore other means to press home their demands or resolve their differences.