On Friday, students from Nigeria’s nineteen northern states protested the ongoing ASUU strike in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
Under the auspices of the Coalition of Northern Groups’ Students, the undergraduates are pleading with traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and governments at all levels to intervene immediately and put an end to the strike.
The protest came in response to the Federal Government’s inability to end the five-month-long strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
They carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘FG, end ASUU strike now,’ ‘Incessant ASUU/FG face-off, a demonstration of craziness,’ and so on to air their grievances.
While rallying for their cause, the irritated students barricaded the ever-busy Jalingo Expressway, causing gridlock for motorists.
Speaking to journalists, the Coalition’s National Secretary-General, Emuseh Gimba, accused the Federal Government of failing to meet the demands of the striking lecturers.
“The Federal Government has refused to listen to or even consider ASUU’s petition.” “We’re supposed to be responsible for this,” she explained.
“These same government officials were once students.” Previously, these people had access to free education. They are the same people who refer to themselves as our parents. If they will not listen to our lecturers’ pleas, why will they listen to Nigerian students’ pleas?
“Why won’t they consider the fact that they had free education while the students today do not have free education?”
Students in Kaduna, Katsina, and other northern states, she claims, are concerned about the deterioration of security.
Gimba also bemoaned the region’s high rate of kidnapping and banditry, accusing the government of making life difficult for students by adding to their woes with the ongoing ASUU strike.
She also requested that the authorities resolve the impasse with the striking lecturers so that the welfare of students can be prioritised.
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