ASUU: University Students Protest
Hundreds of students of Federal University of Agriculture and Benue State University both in Makurdi, the state capital, took to the streets yesterday to protest the continued strike action of University teachers across the country, just as they urged the Federal Government and ASUU to settle their differences without delay.
The students, led by Joseph Asom, a final year student of the Benue State University, expressed their displeasure over the break down of talks between the Federal Government and ASUU, which he said is taking its toll on them.
The students started their protest march from the Benue State University, Makurdi, through major roads in the city and ended it at the main entrance of the government house, where they appealed to the governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam to inform President Yar’Adua and Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu to save the educational system from imminent collapse.
Asom maintained that students of the tertiary institutions in the country are the ones feeling the impact of the strike which, he added, was detrimental to their interest, their parents and the nation, stressing that Nigerians in leadership positions are not worried about their peculiar situation because their children are schooling abroad where the educational sector has been stabilized.
He added that their patience is being stretched beyond limit and called on the authorities, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other concerned Nigerians to intervene for the quick resolution of the impasse which the federal government is toying with.
Some of the placards the students were carrying along with leaves over their heads read: Sack Egwu now; Yar’Adua stop the strike; Without education no seven point agenda; We are tired of staying at home, we want to resume schooling; Educational sector is collapsing, etc.
According to the students, “we are disappointed in our leaders, especially the Education Minister because they have not done much for the enhancement of the nation’s educational system which has given rise to the prolonged closure of our universities.”
They reiterated, “We demand an end to the unhealthy faceoff between ASUU and the Federal Government because we are tired of sitting at home, we are warning that Nigerian students should not be taken for granted.”
Special Adviser to Governor Suswam on Security Matters, Col. Benjamin Aboho (retd), who received the students on behalf of the acting governor, Chief Steven Lawani, praised the students for the peaceful nature of the protest.
Aboho promised to brief the acting governor on their protest and request, which would be dispatched to the Presidency in Abuja after consultations with all relevant bodies in the educational sector in the state.
