The National Association of Nigeria Students, University of Uyo Chapter, at the weekend embarked on a peaceful protest to express their grievances over the inability of the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Unions of Universities (ASUU) to reach a consensus and resolve all pending issues so students can return to school.
The students, who troop out very early in the day, blocked the Ikpa road of the university’s town campus, calling on the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their differences, while giving a seven day ultimatum for their request to be met.
Chanting solidarity songs, the students threatened to shut down Aso Rock and the National Assembly if their request is not acceded to within the stipulated period.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “We want ASUU strike resolve now, “we are tired of staying at home” our rent is wasting” We cannot wait anymore”
The zone D, NANS Coordinator and a Communication Arts student of UNIUYO, Mr. Etinyene Offongekpe, called for an immediate end on the lingering strike by ASUU.
We are sending this message to the federal government and ASUU. We are tired of staying at home, our rents have expired. We want to return and complete the academic year. We cannot accept this anymore.
“We call on the federal government to key into the agreement it signed in 2019 and ASUU to shift grounds. We have come to express to the world that we cannot take this anymore.
“We are under instructions from the NANS Secretariat to shut down Abuja, seven days from now. We are mobilizing to move to Abuja, we will shut the National Assembly and the Aso Rock,” he said.
Comrade Emmanuel Akpan, who is the President, Student Union of the of the University,urged the president, Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, Minister of Education and all relevant stakeholders to settle their grievances with ASUU to save the education sector from collapse.
He said: “The Nigeria students are tired, I am tired, we are all tired. The final year students have been in final year for two years. It is unacceptable.
“We are demonstrating to call on the federal government, the National Assembly, the senators, the ministers and all relevant authorities to please settle grievances with ASUU and allow students to return back to school.”
Recall that ASUU had given conditions for the reopening of schools, which include; the development of an alternative to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and replaced it with University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS).
The Union body, also asked the federal government to pay the salaries of members that are being owed.
