Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan and the National Association of Nigeria Students, Joint Campus Committee (NANS JCC) Oyo state chapter have called for an end to the six-week-old strike of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
Addressing journalists at the Student Union building of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, the two student groups decried that the educational progress of several Nigerian students continued to be put in jeopardy by the failure of the federal government and ASUP to reach a consensus on the lingering issues.
The Polytechnic staff had since April 6 commenced an indefinite strike on issues to include implementation of the ASUP/FG agreement of 2010, and payment of salaries and arrears of the new minimum wage in some state-owned polytechnics, implementation of the Needs Assessment Report of 2014 and reconstitution of governing councils of polytechnics.
Speaking, Student Union President of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Fadare Blessing urged the federal government to save the lives of polytechnic students and pay the “stipends” demanded by polytechnic staff.
Stressing that students’ progress to graduation and for national service was being stalled by the strike, Fadare urged both the federal government and ASUP to further shift grounds, reach a consensus and end the protracted strike.
Fadare said, “The two parties should reach a consensus and end the strike. We are tired of staying at home. This strike has lasted for more than a month.
“Students want to get back to school; some want to go for their service year. We urge the federal government not to delay in paying what I refer to as stipends to the polytechnic staff to end this strike.
“The two parties should consider the interest of the students as paramount, not theirs.”
Also speaking, Public Relations Officer, NANS JCC Oyo state, Adeleke Quadri charged both the federal government and ASUP to stop toying with the future of polytechnic students.
Adeleke wondered why it was difficult for the two parties to reach a consensus for over six weeks, noting that such strikes contributed to further bastardisation of the nation’s education system.
Furthermore, both Fadare and Adeleke were unanimous in their call on the federal government to strengthen security in schools.
They implored the federal government to make emphatic statements to calm the fears of Nigerian students and youths about their security, especially while in school.
The students however thanked Governor Seyi Makinde for the renovation of hostels at The Polytechnic, Ibadan and other student-friendly interventions.
