UI students stage protest over ASUU strike

Following protests in the University of Lagos and University of Ilorin over the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), students of the University of Ibadan (UI) on Friday staged a protest calling for an end to the strike.

Solomon Emiola, a 200 level student of UI, who led the protest told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was necessary because the students were tired of staying at home.

He said, “Our leaders have continued to politic with our future. Our goal is to shut down the whole of Ibadan, until our demand is met.”

Mr Emiola noted that the protest would continue daily until the government listens to the yearnings of students who are being delayed unnecessarily.

Another protester Daniel Eyilabor said schools should be opened as his peers who did not go to school are living well and making progress.

“If we say that school is a scam, we will not be wrong because our lives are on hold and those who even graduated do not even have jobs. We have to stand up for our rights,” he said.

Former chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Emelieze Andrew said the protest was to awaken the spirit of students whose rights were being trampled upon by the state.

Andrew said the lingering ASUU strike was due to the negligence and failure of leadership, citing various comments of stakeholders.

However, the protest took a new dimension, when UI Student Union leader, Yinka Adewole, stopped the protesters from locking the gate, adding that he was not aware of the protest.

Adewole claimed most of those protesting were not students of UI, saying the union had planned a protest for May 17 to show their grievances over the strike.