ASUU: NANS Protests Prolonged Strike In Ekiti

Ekiti State Students under the platform of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday blocked major roads in Ado-Ekiti in protest against the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

The protest was organised by NANS in conjunction with the Joint Campus Committee, Ekiti axis 

The protesters were made up of students of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, and other government-owned universities in Ado-Ekiti

They trekked to the Fajuyi Park where they mounted barricades while singing solidarity songs, making it difficult for vehicles to pass.

The President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, who addressed the students said the protest was organised to reawaken the federal government to meet the demands of the ASUU., adding that a nation cannot develop if its education system is close to destruction.

“The universities believed to be breeding ground for research, invention, and building of knowledge base of the youth, are rendered functionless, with students left to rotten away without mercy,” he said.

He disclosed the plan NANS has to stage a rally under the title ‘Operation Test-Run’, adding that it would shake the country for failing to solve its problems.

He also mentioned the arrest of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and the former Managing Director of NDDC, Nsima Ekere for fraud.

“What we are saying is that we are tired of staying at home. Our students want to return to school.

“How can the FG be claiming of having no fund to accede to ASUU demands when the corruption of huge magnitude was being perpetrated?

“The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, was arrested for alleged N80 billion fraud.

“The former Managing Director of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, was also arrested by the EFCC for alleged N47 billion naira fraud and the government was claiming that there was no money in the treasury.

“Our demand is simple, the FG must meet all the demands and conditions set by ASUU.

"We are tired of strike today, strike tomorrow.

“Strike is exposing our students to crime and the best bet is to return to school.

“No nation can grow when its intellectual thrust is being debased.

"Our students are being deprived of their rights to standard education,” Asefon explained.