ASUU Strike: NANs Gives FG 2weeks To Resolve Dispute
By Amarachukwu EgwuAgha, Abakaliki
Students from Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo(AE-FUNAI) in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) Joint Campus Council(JCC) Ebonyi state wing Thursday gave the Federal government two weeks ultimatum to resolve issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU).
This is even as they threatened to take the streets of the southeast region if lecturers did not go back to the classroom within two weeks.
The students disclosed this to journalists during a peaceful demonstration at Pa Ngele Oruta township stadium, Abakaliki.
Speaking in their turns, the
Coordinator Nigeria student Southeast zone F, Ibeabuchi Moses said, ” As you can see it is just student leaders that are here, we are just saying a simple thing, ASUU should just call off the strike, I’m doing my masters in Ebonyi state University, this is a program that I should have lasted for one year but it is going to 3years now, we want to go back to school”.
“ASUU should do something, the federal government should negotiate with them, if you look into what they are agitating for they are not crying for what is very bad, they are talking about better features for the students, if there is no good system for the student to read they can not learn anything. The federal government should settle them.
“Just two weeks ago an accountant in this country stole about 80 billion nairas another 1.2bn has been found in his account. Why can’t they use part of that money to settle ASUU so that our students will go back to school? The federal government has the money to settle ASUU, if they did not call off the strike we give them 2weeks and we storm the street. We will storm every street in the southeast for a peaceful demonstration.
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On his part, Comrade Okey John, the NANS Unity JCC chairman Ebonyi state said, “Nigeria Students are registering their grievances today because they are no longer happy staying at home. They are tired because of the ASUU strike our students, especially the female students are now going into prostitution, not only that some are even getting unwanted pregnancies, some are going into early marriage leaving out their primary purpose of joining the High institution. Some have paid school fees and now nothing is happening in the school some of them their house rent is expiring, you know some students are training themselves in school. Some are engaged in one illegal activity or the other.
We are tired of going to the police to rescue our members”.
Equally, SUG President of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo(AE-FUNAI) Prince Jerry Okorafor said, “We are here to air our grievance on the constant ASUU strike, we are not against the strike but the federal government not meeting up with the demands of ASUU.
“These are our lecturers without them we will not get any sound education, but the federal government because of their inappropriateness they have not settled ASUU for a very long time, they have been talking about the demand of the agreement of 2009 and other agreement they have signed but because of the primary elections they have left their priority, the student and the youths who are the feature of tomorrow they are not concerned of our wellbeing. Their children are outside the country getting sound and standard education while we are here perambulating around the street”.
Addressing the students, the Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on student affairs, Gideon Onwe assured the students that Umahi in collaboration with the federal government will soon work out a lasting solution to the industrial actions.
“The ASUU strike has shorted down the Higher institutions in Nigeria and is also a big concern not just to students but also to political key players like the Governor of Ebonyi state who we know is a father is a man that at all time want to see the well-being of the people especially the younger generations has been doing his best and also linking with other governors in the country to see how they can come together to see how to press down the ASUU strike.
“Recently I knew that the governor took this matter to the federal executive council where they are discussing the possible ways to handle this issue permanently While you have to continue to be patient and also give them a little time to resolve this matter is that you have stayed long at home and it will not be good for you to go back to the classroom and within one or two months you will go back on strike.
“What the federal government and ASUU are doing currently is that they are negotiating on the possible way to handle this matter permanently”.