Polytechnics Students Begs President Jonathan To End ASUP Strike 2014

Well, seriously you won’t blame them, but who is to be blamed for this ASUP strike? is it the federal government or the Striking lecturers?
Well, this will be a discussion for another day, report reaching us stats that both parents and Students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria have earnestly plead with President Goodluck Jonathan to end the lingering nationwide strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) since the month of August in the year 2013.

While speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Tuesday, the 11th of February, the students said that time had come for the president to personally wade into the dispute and bring the strike to an end just like what he did with the ASUU strike that end the 6 month old strike.

According to them, the seven-month-old nationwide strike had caused serious academic setback to polytechnic education.

One of the students, Mr Ogochukwu Oko of the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana Afikpo in Ebonyi, described the indefinite strike as “unfortunate’’ and appealed to the president to act fast to save polytechnic education in the country, because it’s one of the strongest sector any country would have.

Mr. Ogochukwu disclosed this and we quote him “The strike is almost seven months old and the government has not come up with any concrete position to resolve the industrial impasse.

“What is currently happening in Nigeria has created an academic hemorrhage which is detrimental for the nation’s technological development.

He even went further to say this and further more, we quote him:

“I think this is about time for our dear president to intervene and save the nation from this embarrassing situation,”.

Another enraged student, Miss Cynthia Uzo of the accountancy department in the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana Afikpo in Ebonyi lamented the loss of one academic year and appealed for actions to end the protracted strike and let students continue their studies so as to finish on time and start helping their parents.

According to Cynthia, it is rather unfortunate that the federal government is paying lip service to polytechnic education in the country.

“The issues that our lecturers are demanding for are very critical to functional, effective and qualitative running of polytechnics.
“Since a series of meetings between ASUP and the federal government often ended in deadlock, it is wise for our president to personally intervene in the crisis and intervene just like he did in the ASUU strike. His presence is important and needed to put a stop to this strike’’ she said.

Uzo also maintained that the quest for industrial and technological advancement would be a mirage if proper attention was not given to polytechnic education.

Mr Malachi Odo and Desmond Iheanacho of Ebonyi State University condemned the government’s apparent insensitivity and poor handling of the strike.

“Agreement is agreement and the law demands that agreements must be obeyed.
“We are shocked that the government will always renege on agreements it validly entered into with labour unions and by so doing give room for industrial action.

“This is unfair and unhealthy for our overall development as a nation and we therefore appeal to Jonathan to quickly intervene to save the situation,’’ they said.

They noted that graduates from the nation’s tertiary institutions were looked down in the international community because of the country’s long history of incessant strikes in the tertiary institutions.

You should note that the polytechnic lecturers embarked on a nationwide strike which they commence in August 2013, and the main issue is this: citing the non-implementation of the 2009 agreement it reached with the federal government.

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Joseph Richard

A graduate of Medicine From IMSU, Current Nurse, Tertiary institutions news anchor and lover of Information. I love reading and sharing valuable Information/Tips/News

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