NANS threatens nationwide protest over prolonged closure of Benue tertiary institutions

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By Adeola Badru

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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a five-day ultimatum to the Benue State Government to resolve its disputes with the state chapters of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COASU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and reopen tertiary institutions in the state.

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NANS, in a public notice signed by its Deputy Senate President, Caleb King Ogabidu, yesterday said students in the affected institutions had been out of school for more than two months, describing the prolonged closure as unacceptable and a threat to the academic future of thousands of students.

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The students’ body consequently directed all its structures to commence immediate mobilisation for a peaceful demonstration in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Friday, September 25, 2026, if the state government fails to resolve the dispute and return students to their classrooms within the stipulated period.

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In the notice titled, “Notice of Mass Mobilisation to Makurdi, Benue State — Friday 25th, September 2026 Over the Perpetual Closure of Tertiary Institutions in the State”, NANS said the prolonged absence of students from the classrooms was the result of what it described as an “obvious negligence of education” by the state government.

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The association said, “It isn’t news anymore that Nigerian students within Benue State have been out of school for over two months now and are still counting due to an obvious negligence of education by the state government, which is no longer tolerable.”

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NANS stressed that education remained fundamental to the development of society and should therefore occupy a central position in the priorities of any responsible government.

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“Education is the bedrock of every society, and it should be the core of any responsible government,” the association stated.

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It said the directives became necessary because NANS, as the apex body representing Nigerian students, had a responsibility to defend and advocate the interests and rights of students at both local and international levels.

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According to the students’ body, its first demand is that the Benue State Government should settle its outstanding disputes with the Benue State chapters of COASU and ASUP.

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It also demanded that the government should, within the stipulated period contained in the notice, conclude arrangements to reintegrate the affected students into their classrooms and restore normal academic activities.

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NANS warned that failure by the state government to reach an agreement with the affected unions and return the students to their classrooms within five working days would trigger a nationwide mobilisation of its members.

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“That failure to reach an agreement and to return our students to their classrooms within 5 working days from today, we will be left with no option other than to mobilise our members across the country to drive home our demands,“ it stated.

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The association further declared that the academic future of the affected students could not be sacrificed because of the government’s inability to resolve the dispute.

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“We cannot mortgage the destinies of thousands of our students on the altar of the government’s insensitivity,” NANS said.

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The institutions identified as being affected by the strike and prolonged closure are Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo; Akpereshi Polytechnic, Yandev, Gboko; Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi; Benue State College of Education, Oju; and College of Education, Katsina-Ala.

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NANS called on students of the affected institutions to remain steadfast, assuring them that its leadership was fully committed to ensuring their return to the classrooms.

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The association said, “We call on Nigerian students in the affected schools to remain steadfast as the leadership of NANS is fully committed to making sure that they’re returned to the classrooms.”

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It subsequently directed all NANS structures to begin mobilisation for a peaceful demonstration upon the expiration of the ultimatum issued to the state government.

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“Lastly, all NANS structures are by this notice advised to commence mobilisation for a peaceful demonstration on the expiration of this ultimatum to the State government,” it said.

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