By Samson Obande, Lafia

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Nasarawa State axis, has called on the Nasarawa State Government to urgently intervene and settle outstanding staff arrears owed to Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in order to end the ongoing industrial action and restore academic activities.

The appeal was made on Monday during an engagement between the NANS leadership and the management of NSUK, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, at the university campus.

The meeting was led by the National Treasurer of NANS and Head of NANS in Nasarawa State, Comrade Idris Asmawu Omeiza, alongside other student stakeholders.

It followed the Vice-Chancellor’s appeal to NANS to help calm students and discourage a planned protest over the prolonged disruption.

Addressing the delegation, Prof. Liman assured that the University Management and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had reached an understanding on the payment of outstanding staff arrears.

She expressed optimism that the government would settle the obligations to enable full resumption.

“Efforts will be intensified to ensure that students are called back to campus to resume academic activities and continue their session. I appeal to students to remain patient and embrace dialogue while the issues are being resolved,” she said.

In her response, Comrade Omeiza reaffirmed NANS’ commitment to dialogue and peaceful engagement, stressing the association’s “Three Cs” principle: Consultation, Consolidation and Communication before Confrontation.

“As a product of Nasarawa State University, I remain deeply concerned about the welfare, safety and academic progress of students. I will not support any action that unnecessarily puts them at risk,” she stated.

She also commended the Vice-Chancellor for her developmental strides and for providing a conducive learning environment that has placed NSUK among the best state universities in Nigeria.

Also present at the meeting, the DPO of Angwan Lambu Police Station urged students to channel their grievances through peaceful and lawful means, while the DSS Director, Keffi, emphasized the need for student leaders to consider the security implications of mass gatherings and prevent the hijacking of legitimate concerns by persons with ulterior motives.

NANS acknowledged the frustrations of students over the prolonged disruption but urged them to remain calm, patient and peaceful while consultations continue.

“We call on the Government of Nasarawa State, as a matter of urgency, to intervene and settle the outstanding arrears owed to university staff in order to facilitate the resolution of the industrial dispute and enable students to return to campus the association said.

NANS reiterated its commitment to protecting the interests and welfare of students while pursuing a peaceful and lasting resolution to the ongoing crisis.