Watching the powers that be argue and disagree when your future hangs in the balance is certainly a frustrating experience as a Nigerian student.
That frustration is beginning to boil over in different parts of the country and the results are evident. A joint protest by students in Ogun state took place today. The students from the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, the Tai Solarin University of Education, Science and Technology (TASUED) in Ijagun and the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB) in Abeokuta blocked off the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.
A protest banner pictured at the protest had the statement, “Nigerian Government, Stop Toying with Our Education”. A sentiment that we can all agreed is shared by the entire student body.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the protest left motorists in the axis stranded.
The President of the TASUED student union, Sharon Great speaking at the protest said,
“We have all come here today to shut down the Benin-Ore Expressway so as to make our demands met by the Federal Government and to also pass a message to the state governments.
“Nigerian universities need proper funding. It is the responsibility of the FG and state government to bring about a viable educational system. That is why we have gathered here today to show that our demands must be met by the Federal Government.”
READ MORE: ASUU Strike: Lawan Tells Students Not To Disrupt Political Activities.
Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Damilola Simeon said,
”We have been clamouring since the commencement of this ASUU strike that something should be done with immediate effect, but both ASUU and the federal government are not listening to us.
“They have to understand the fact that Nigerian students will always be at the receiving end at the end of the day. Our students are suffering, our students are fed up. This whole issue is getting out of hand.
“We do not pray that our students end up engaging themselves in criminal activities as we all know that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop,”
The strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began on February 14 and was initially meant to be for 4 weeks. It’s been 91 days since then and the strike is still ongoing.
