UNILORIN students protest ASUU strike

Students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest over the ongoing strike by the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU).

ASUU had on February 14 declared a one-month warning strike to protest the non-implementation of its demands by the federal government.

But on March 14, the union extended the industrial action by eight weeks, citing the government’s failure to fully address its demands.

The union also extended the strike by another 12 weeks on Monday.

According to NAN, the protest, led by Taofeek Opeyemi, the president of the students’ union, started in front of the school entrance.

Opeyemi said the protest is to create awareness about their anger with respect to the prolonged strike to the federal and state government and other stakeholders.

He added that if the federal government and ASUU do not reach a compromise soon, other students across Nigeria’s tertiary institution will be called to join the protest.

“We are tired of staying at home. Some of us that are supposed to graduate are spending more years,” he said.

“We understand that the federal government and ASUU are meeting and if nothing is achieved, we shall mobilise members of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other institutions such as Polytechnics and Colleges of Educations to join the protest.

“We shall shut down all activities in the state until our demands are met.”

On his part, Salman Isa, Kwara state chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said the body would mobilise other students to join the protest if the strike isn’t called off.

“Unless ASUU lifts its strike actions and students resume school, NANS will deploy its members from other institutions to join the protest,’’ he said.