Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, on Monday barricaded the Akure-Ilesa Highway, protesting the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The action of the students forced many motorists and travellers to be stranded.
The protesters blocked the highway at the main entrance of the Institution, chanting different solidarity songs and displaying placards with various inscriptions such as: “End ASUU Strike”, “Save our future”, “Stop Toying with our Future.”
Speaking with newsmen, Mr Abiodun Ibiyemi, the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the university, said:”we can no longer bear the brunt of the feud between ASUU and the Federal Government.
”We call for well-established resolution for the benefit of the students.
”Our future is being challenged by constant and lingering strike”,
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Sunday Asefon, on May 10 condemned the strike extension and declared a nationwide protest.
Asefon made this known following the ASUU’s announcement that it has extended its strike for 12 more weeks.
”Having exhausted all windows of constructive engagement with the government. I, on behalf of the national leadership of NANS, therefore, declare National Action from May 10.
”The national action tagged “Operation Test Run” shall be held in all the 36 states of the federation. Federal roads across the 36 states shall be occupied for a minimum of three hours.
NAN also reports that on Feb. 15, ASUU began a four-week rollover strike following the Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.
The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said the decision was taken after the union’s National Executive Committee meeting.
Osodeke said since the last meeting the union had with the Federal Government in December 2021, it had not received any formal invitation from government.
ASUU extended the action by another two months to afford the government more time to address all of its demands.
ASUU also accused the government of displaying an indifferent attitude toward its demands.
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