S’west NANS chides Buhari, education ministers over ASUU strike
• Launches varsity street protest, demands resolution of crisis • Berates Wabba- led NLC for showing less concern • Students block Akure- Ilesha highway, UI Ibadan- Sango road
THE South- West Zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS), yesterday, launched what it called university street protest to condemn the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU).
The NANS Zone D, which also demanded an immediate resolution of the ASUU strike, lamented that the pandemic status of the strike was less of worry to President Muhammadu Buhari and his education ministers.
These were contained in a statement made available to The Guardian in Ibadan and signed by Olatunji Emmanuel Adegboye ( Coordinator), John Alao ( Deputy Co- ordinator) and Opeoluwa Awoyinfa ( Public Relations Officer).
“Today, as the South- West leadership of Nigerian students, we are here to once again expose to the world the barefaced lip service and unconcealed disinterestedness of the Buhari- led administration in rescuing the future of this country from path of irredeemable destruction.
“It is over three months of dilemma, confusion, plan disruption and disorientation for Nigerian university students owing to the ongoing ASUU strike, which was orchestrated by the systemic failure we call education ministry in Nigeria.
“This yearly calamity, which has assumed a pandemic status, is apparently the least of worries for President Buhari and his education ministers.”
The body also lamented that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ( ASUP) has embarked on a nationwide industrial action, saying: “Similar reasons for the ongoing ASUU strike was also cited by ASUP as basis for their proposed work stoppage.”
However, the students berated the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) for allegedly showing less concern to the plight of ASUU, saying: “We are disappointed in Ayuba Wabba- led Nigeria Labour Congress for showing less concern about ASUU and Nigerian students in this difficult time.
“We urge other stakeholders to unite with us even as we continue to demand for our rights.”
MEANWHILE, students of various universities in Ondo State, yesterday, shut down the Akure/ Ilesha Highway, causing heavy traffic gridlock.
The students, who barricaded the major highway at the main entrance of the institution, berated the Federal Government for not yielding to the demands of ASUU.
Many residents of Akure metropolis and travellers were stranded, while others were seen trekking long distances to connect their routes during the protest.
Vice Chairman, National Association of University Students ( NAUS), Ondo Chapter, Afolarin Shittu, stated that the move became imperative after it was discovered that the Federal Government was not concerned about the plight of students.
ALSO, students have blocked the University of Ibadan- Sango Road in protest against the lingering strike, forcing commuters plying the road to find alternative routes.
They vowed to continue occupying the road if the campuses remained shut.