The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), North Central Axis (Zone C), has given the Niger State Government until Monday, September 21, 2026, to take decisive steps towards resolving the ongoing industrial action at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai).
The demand was contained in an open letter dated September 15, 2026, addressed to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and signed by Comr. Abiola Azeez Babatunde, Zonal Coordinator of NANS Zone C.
NANS Zone C said the deadline followed what it described as unsuccessful efforts to secure government intervention through dialogue over the prolonged closure of the university.
The students’ body said it had formally requested an urgent meeting with the governor on September 3, 2026, to discuss the strike and seek a resolution. It added that it suspended a proposed protest at the time to allow room for dialogue and government intervention.
NANS is now calling on the state government to convene relevant stakeholders, including IBBU management, the affected unions and student representatives, to address the issues responsible for the strike and establish a clear timeline for the resumption of academic activities.
The association said that if no concrete action is taken by September 21, it would begin what it described as a peaceful and lawful mobilisation of students from the seven states of the North Central region to Minna.
It also announced plans to relocate the NANS Zone C secretariat to Niger State from September 21 to coordinate the proposed activities.
The latest position comes against the backdrop of an indefinite strike declared by the IBBU branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on August 24, 2026. ASUU said the action followed the Niger State Government’s alleged failure to implement critical components of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, despite previous engagements.
ASUU-IBBU Chairman, Dr. Galadima Bala, has previously said the union remained open to genuine and result-oriented dialogue and that the strike could be suspended following demonstrable commitment and concrete action towards resolving the outstanding issues.
NANS Zone C said its proposed mobilisation would remain peaceful and within the law, stressing that its demand was aimed at restoring academic activities at IBBU and protecting students from further disruption to their academic programmes.
The association urged the Niger State Government to use the period before the September 21 deadline to engage the relevant parties and work towards reopening the university.
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Education