Students Appeal ToJonathan To End ASUUStrike

Some students of
Ebonyi State University
(EBSU), Abakaliki, on
Thursday appealed to
President Goodluck
Jonathan to intervene
and stop the ongoing
strike by university
lecturers.
The students said that the
ongoing strike in its 4th
day was not in the interest
of university education
and commended lecturers
in EBSU for not
participating in the strike.
The students, who spoke
include Miss Rebecca
Okoro, a 200 level student
of the Department of
Biotechnology as well as
Enyinnaya Oko and
Stephen Onwe both first
year students of the
Department of Mass
Communication.
They said timely
intervention by Jonathan
would salvage the
situation and appealed to
him to act fast to save the
university system from
collapse.
The students expressed
regret that their colleagues
affected by the strike had
remained at home.
“We commend the
wisdom and decision of
the local ASUU chapter for
not participating in the
ongoing industrial action.
“You know we just
resumed on May 12 for
academic activities after
six weeks closure of the
institution by the
authorities in the wake of
violent protests by
students over fee hike.
“Joining the strike now will
have serious
consequences on the
students of the university.
“We, however, feel for
our colleagues in these
affected universities who
are now wasting in their
respective homes,’’ Okoro
said.
The students said that
their first semester
examination had just
started before the
commencement of the
ASUU strike.
They said that the
industrial action embarked
upon by the ASUU could
distort the smooth
running of the academic
calendar if nothing was
done to end it soon.
The students decried the
alleged lack of
commitment by the
government to the
fulfilment of agreements
with labour unions.
According to Okoro, the
indefinite strike is a
setback to the higher
education sector.
She called for concerted
efforts to end the strike.
“We understand that this
agreement was reached
between ASSU and
Federal Government
representatives since 2009
and one wonders why
government has refused
to implement the terms of
the agreement,” she said.
Onwe said: “We
completely detest the
posturing of government
in the whole issue but we
are appealing to Mr
President to urgently
intervene.
“His timely intervention
will no doubt facilitate
quick resolution of the
impasse in the interest of
Nigerian students,’’ he
said.
Dr Isa Fagge, the National
President of ASSU, had
directed members of the
union to embark on an
indefinite strike over the
non-implementation of
some of the issues
contained in their
agreement with
government in 2009.
He alleged that the
government had reneged
on the Memorandum of
Understanding it signed
with the union in
December 2011. (NAN)
Don't wait until it is too
late.