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BY SUNNY A. DAVID
Anambra State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), on Tuesday, embarked on a peaceful protest to register their anger over the ongoing one month warning strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The Association made up of students drawn from Unizik, Federal Polythnic Oko and other tertiary institutions in the State gathered at the popular Aroma Junction, along Onitsha- Enugu Expressway, Awka, demanding immediate end to the strike.
Recall that a week ago, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU commenced a strike action against the Federal Government for failure to meet up with their demands thereby shutting down Federal Universities across the State.
Reacting to the strike action, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), instructed its members across the country to initiate protest against the action.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the protest, Anambra State Chairman of NANS, Comrade Peter Onyenweife, said the protest was to register their displeasure over the incessant ASUU strikes in the Nation’s Universities.
He noted that the strike had always been about the selfish interests of ASUU and FG representatives and never about the interest of the Nigerian students.
The State Chairman of NANS warned that after one week, if the both parties refuse to settle their case, the Association will barricade all the streets, markets and government offices.
Comrade Onyenweife called on the federal government and ASUU to take immediate action towards resolving the strike for the interest of the students within one week or they will shut down all federal government offices in Anambra state.
The National President, National Association of Polythnic Students, Comrade Asiegbu Kingsley Chinonso and the National Director of Transport under National Association of Nigeria College of Education Students (NANCES), Comrade Obi Christian, who were part of the protest in solidarity, also appealed to the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their differences, noting that because of the strike, most of the students have returned back to prostitution, drug abuse, armed robbery and cultism in campuses across the State.
Speaking to our correspondent, one of the protesters who identified himself as Emmanuel explained that the incessant strike actions have kept him in school more than the supposed year he should have stayed.
He called on the government to quickly intervene and permanently end the strike as it is seriously affecting their education.
The protesting students had placards with inscriptions saying “age is irreversible, house rents are non-refundable, stop disrupting our life plans FG, stop delaying our career, stop toying with our future and that of our dear nation, we can’t continue to be bait for anybody,” among others.Show quoted text
