ASUU strike: Alex Ekwueme varsity students, NANS give FG 2 weeks to resolve dispute with lecturers

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Students of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), along with South East leaders of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Thursday, joined their colleagues across public universities in protesting the continued nationwide industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The students staged a peaceful protest in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, in condemnations of the strike even as they gave the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to end the lingering ASUU strike.

The students warned that failure by the Federal Government to address ASUU demands within two weeks, they might be left with no other option than to occupy the streets.

Addressing Journalists at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, shortly after the protest, the SUG President of AE-FUNAI, Comrade Jerry Okafor, lamented that the strike had pushed most students to the streets, thereby exposing them to all kinds of social vices.

Okafor said: “We are against the Federal Government for not meeting the demands of ASUU. Members of ASUU are our lecturers, and if not because of these lecturers, we won’t be getting standard education, so the Federal Government because of negligence, have not settled ASUU for a very long time based on their agreement in 2009, among others.

“They have abandoned the students, the future leaders of this country, because of primary elections and don’t even have any concern about our wellbeing because most of their children are studying outside the country, getting sound and standard education while we are here gallivanting on the streets.

“Some students are already indulging in all forms of social vices because of ASUU strike.

“We are urging Federal Government to settle ASUU. They spent billions during the just concluded primary elections and what ASUU is demanding for is not up to that amount. The Federal Government should do the needful because we, the students, are not happy. We are giving them two weeks ultimatum to resolve the strike or we storm the entire streets of this state and beyond.”

Also, the Chairman, Joint Campus Council (JCC) Ebonyi State, Comrade Oke John Kingsley, disclosed that students were not happy about the way ASUU strike was being handled by the Federal Government, saying that they are tired of staying at home.

He expressed worry that some students were now fully into prostitution, and other social vices because of the inability of government to resolve the strike.

He therefore, urged the Federal Government to listen to the demands of ASUU to provide facilities that would make the school environment conducive for teaching and learning.

“We are no longer happy sitting at home, we are tired. Because of this ASUU strike, some students are now into prostitution, some are getting unwanted pregnancy, early marriage, some into ‘yahoo’ and illegal activities on the streets while security agencies are busy arresting them. We are tired of going to police station.

“As a matter of urgency, the Federal Government should negotiate with ASUU. If there are no good facilities in the school, we won’t have a conducive environment for learning.”

On their part, the Coordinator, NANS Zone F, South East Zone, Comrade Ibeabuchi Moses and the immediate past Coordinator of NANS, South East/South-South Zone, Comrade Olisa Nwuruku Alfred, all pointed out that the nationwide strike had caused much harm, noting that the peaceful demonstration was to express their grievances over the ASUU strike.

They lamented that students were at home while the Nigerian government is preparing to conduct general elections, and pleaded with the Federal Government to meet with the demands of ASUU to enable students go back to school  to avoid being used as thugs during the elections.

Responding, the Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Students Affairs, Hon. Gideon Onwe who received the students on behalf of government, urged the students to continue to comport themselves and remain peaceful as Federal Government was already looking into the matter.