USA Africa Dialogue Series - ASUU strike: Students threaten to shut down private varsities

 http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/news/item/20913-asuu-strike-students-threaten-to-shut-down-private-varsities.html

University students in Ekiti State, on Thursday, threatened to vent their anger over the lingering impasse between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the private universities ina the country.

The angry students' representatives, who had marched to the Press Centre in the Old Governor's Office in Ado Ekiti, lamented that the cause of alleged insensitivity of the government to ASUU's demands was because "their children are either in foreign universities or in private universities in Nigeria."

The students, who came under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee, argued that it was wrong for the Federal Government to claim that there was no money to implement the 2009 agreement it signed with the university lecturers.

They said "we will mobilise ourselves and ensure that we disrupt academic activities in most of the private school because it is the sons and daughters of the affluent that are in these schools."

The students, who spoke through Mr Sunday Asefon, lashed out at the Federal Government over the 2009 agreement, saying "agreements are expected to be honoured in good faith as there is continuous recession in the standard of education since Dr Goodluck Jonathan emerged as the president of the country."

The students also called on Ekiti, Lagos, Osun and Ogun states to reduce the fees they charge in their universities.

Also speaking,Comrade Steven Adara, a student leader in EKSU, noted that those in government and some notable prominent Nigerians are not helping the matter as they are in the habit of sending their sons and daughters to private schools and overseas, threatening to disrupt activities in most of the private institutions if the present ASUU strike is not addressed by the government as soon as possible.

Also speaking, another student leader, Comrade Bewaji Oluwadamilare, the coordinator, Joint Campus Committee (JCC), berated the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for her comments on the current strike embarked upon by university teachers.

- Ikhide

 

Stalk my blog at www.xokigbo.com

Follow me on Twitter: @ikhide

Join me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ikhide