The Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this shortly before he declared open the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, in Abuja.

He said that the onus of admitting students lies in the individual universities’ administrations, noting that about three different sessions are being run by various universities.

According to him, while some universities are still in their 2020/2021 academic session, some other ones are in the 2021/22 academic session, and some other universities are in their 2022/2023 academic session.

He advised candidates seeking admission to interact with the respective institutions to know the particular session they are running.

He maintained that JAMB has not cancelled any admission for any session and that no admission by the board has elapsed or will elapse, stressing that admission for any particular session would- be determined by the senate of the various universities.

He also advised students seeking admission to contact the institution of their choice on the session being run by the school.

Recall that the Federal Government and ASUU since February 14 have been at loggerheads over demands of proper funding of the university educational system to a global standard.

After several attempt by the government for ASUU to end the strike with no result, the government filed a suit against the academic union which the court ordered them to resume immediately and call off the strike.

But ASUU through it counsel, Falana filed another suit to appeal the judgement which eventually didn’t go in the favour of the union as the appeal court in Abuja also order the union to call off the strike and resume lectures for students.

Following this the Union’s Lawyer while speaking at a book launch ‘Breaking Coconut With Your Head’ by Lanre Arogundade in Lagos hinted that the industrial action will be concluded outside the courtroom in his reaction to the appellate court’s order that the public universities’ lecturers should return to classrooms.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by NANS Coordinator and Spokesperson, Adegboye Olatunji and Awoyinfa Opeoluwa, respectively, on Monday.

The student body said they would be hitting the streets again in the coming days.

Part of the statement read: “It behooves us to call the attention of the general public and the international community on the brazen insult meted on the Nigerian students by the irresponsible administration of Buhari.

“We want Nigerian students to be ready for a grand mass action on the ASUU strike. We are clear that this government is anti-public education and this is against the yearnings of millions of students and youths.

“In coming days, we shall be occupying the streets across the South-West region to conduct a final burial rite of public education in the country as this is what the Buhari’s administration represents,” the statement concluded.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, made the declaration on Wednesday while receiving members of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) at his office in Abuja.

Ngige also gave an assurance that the court ruling does not preclude further negotiation between the Federal Government and ASUU.

“The ruling is in the best interest of the nation,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by a spokesperson for the ministry, Olajide Oshundun. “It is a win-win situation for all of us – government, students, lecturers – all Nigerians indeed.

“I have just gotten the order of court asking ASUU to go back to work. It is a sound judgment. It is no victor, no vanquished. You doctors in academics are for now members of ASUU, but, you are here, even though you have dissociated yourself and you are working. We want to thank you for working and teaching your students.

“The court ruling does not preclude us from going on with further negotiation and consultations. The pro-chancellors met Mr President and made some demands, such as topping up government offers and seeing whether there could be some bailout. Mr President said in considering it, he will consult stakeholders. So, he is going to consult everybody.”

Ngige welcomed the intervention of the House of Representatives in the crisis, saying he was happy that Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said the lawmakers would meet with the President.

He said the intervention was timely considering that the President must have also consulted some stakeholders, adding that whatever money to be put in would go into the 2023 appropriation where the National Assembly comes in.

“If they have shown interest now, it is good and wonderful. When they bring that proposal, the Executive will not have any problem. ASUU should also know that this is a step in the right direction.

“And all these things have been promised them by the Minister of Education at their last meeting with him. For me, they should do the needful and get back to the classroom,” the minister stated.

He said the government would order the vice-chancellors to reopen the universities in compliance with the order of the court.

The union, however, said its strike remained unshakeable as those institutions were still under lock and key.

The Vice President of ASUU and its former branch chairman at the University of Jos, Dr. Chris Piwuna, said these in an interview with The PUNCH.

This follows the announcement by Public Relations Officer of Imo State University, Owerri, Ralph Njoku, that it had pulled out of the ASUU nationwide strike and consequently asked its students and staff members to resume school on Tuesday, September 20.

According to him, IMSU had decided to pull out of the seven-months strike in the interest of the students and staff of the institution.

“Yes. It is true. We have asked students to resume immediately. Lectures start on Tuesday. We are doing this in the best interest of our students and staff. We are not only pulling out of the ASUU strike but also asking everyone to return to school,” he said.

But Piwuna mocked the Universities saying ASUU would remain unshaken.

He said, “I don’t know why these people will never learn their lesson. Is the PRO of the University a member of our union? Does he have the mandate to speak for our members? Did we consult with him or his VC (Vice Chancellor) before we embarked on the action? They are incurable interlopers.

“Let us hear from our branch chairperson. Let them not waste the time of our students and parents.

“They said the same thing about Gombe State University, Yobe State University, Kaduna State University and the rest. Those institutions are still under lock and key. Our strike is unshakeable .

“Our members remain resilient and single minded about our overall goal to rescue our public Universities from the clutches of the neo-liberal, neo-colonialist.”

It was gathered that the inability of the travellers to enter the airport caused the development.

The domestic terminal one also known as the General Aviation Terminal and terminal two operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Service Limited of the Airport and the MMA were shut down by the students, which prevented passengers from entering the airport. For this reason, some local and international flights were re-scheduled.

NANS stormed the MMA area Monday morning in protest against the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The protest attracted the presence of the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who joined the students and assured them of support.

NANS is asking the Federal Government to resolve the ongoing strike action by ASUU, which began on February 14, 2022.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has, however, scheduled a Tuesday meeting with the leadership of the ASUU led by its President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, on possible solutions to the lingering issues..

The students are protesting the nine-month-long strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

NANS spokesperson, Giwa Yisa Temitope, said Nigerian students are tired of staying at home, adding that the Federal Government has failed young people, Channels TV.

On Wednesday, the students also blocked the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to protest against the lingering dispute between ASUU and the Federal Government. They blocked the inbound and outbound sections of the expressway.

While addressing reporters during the protest, members of the association said the protest has become imperative in order to press home their demand for immediate resolution of the face-off between ASUU and the Federal Government.

The protest brought vehicular movement on the ever-busy expressway to a halt, leaving passengers stranded. Some were forced to take barely motorable alternative routes to avoid the protesters, while others drove against the traffic in order to beat the traffic jam the protest caused.

The students body, on Monday informed of taking protests to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Sagamu Interchange) over the ongoing ASUU strike.

Speaking on the protest, coordinator of the students body, Adegboye Olatunji stated that the protest was organised as a result of the lingering ASUU strike.

Olatunji stated, “Since the inception of this administration, we have seen how a meagre sum is allocated to the educational sector. It is based on the foregoing that we declare a protest against the prolonged ASUU strike which has ultimately affected the progress of Nigerian students for the past six months. And, we also passed a vote of no confidence on the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

The students expressed worry that since the inception of this administration, they have seen a meagre sum of money allocated to the educational sector.

According to the association, It is based on the foregoing that we declare a protest against the prolonged ASUU strike which has ultimately affected the progress of Nigerian students for the past six months.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of legal tussle, there are speculations that the National Industrial Court may assign the case between the Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities to another judge.

It was gathered that the judge, who presided over the case on Monday, Polycap Hamman, is a vacation judge.

The case, which was filed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been adjourned till Friday.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, made this known to newsmen on Tuesday at a meeting with Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja.

“To be frank with all the unions, especially with ASUU, one major issue over which Government and the Unions could not reach amicable agreement was the issue of the law on “No work, No pay.” In the spirit of sincerity, the Government made it clear that it would not break the law,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to all the Unions that have made the sacrifice of understanding the position of Government on the matter.

ASUU has been involved in a face-off with the Federal Government going to seven months now, leading to the complete closure of public universities in Nigeria.

The newly elected President of NANS, Mr Usman Barambu, made the call at a news conference on Monday in Abuja, NAN reports.

Barambu described as worrisome the lingering dispute between ASUU and the Federal Government which had lasted for about seven months.

He noted that the incessant strikes had affected the academic calendar of public owned universities.

“Also, it has negatively impacted on the future of Nigerian students, as a programme of four years now would last for six years,” he added.

Similarly, the chairman, Communiqué Drafting Committee, Mr Usman Ayuba, urged Buhari to bring on board capable hands with experience and capacity to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

Ayuba also appealed to the government to proffer workable solutions to address incessant clashes between farmers and herders across the country.

He called on the Ministry of Education to give priority attention to the sector in terms of budgetary allocation to meet the UNESCO standard and recommendation of setting aside 26 per cent of annual budget to education by developing countries.

The students also wanted lecturers involved in the business of sex for marks to desist from such nefarious activities, stressing that students would expose anyone found culpable.