National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) on Thursday staged a protest over continued strike of the Academics Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The action caused human and vehicular gridlock in the University town of Nsukka -9th Mile- Makurdi Expressway and its envrions.
From the Opi junction axis of the Nsukka Local Government Area through the 9th Mile Makurdi Expressway withnessed severe blockade by the protesters for many hours which made movements difficult.
The protesters, who were about 3,000, displayed placards with inscriptions like “No suspension of ASUU strike, no party primaries”; “We are tired of staying at home”; FG should setttle with ASUU, so that students will go back to school”; Politicians have N100m to buy election forms but FG says no money to meet ASUU demands” and many others.
Speaking with journalists, the leader of the protesting students and Chairman, Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Enugu State, Emmanuel Obi, said students decided to embark on the protest nationwide to express their anger and unhappiness over ASUU strike which started in the past two months and forced students in public universities to stay at home.
He said, ”Students all over the country are not happy staying at home in the past two months because of Federal Government inability to resolve its face-off with ASUU.
“Last Monday, ASUU added another three months to the strike, if nothing is done students, will be at home for another three months.
“Federal Government should meet ASUU demands now so that the union will suspend the strike and students will go back to school.”
He added that NANS would sustain the protests across the country until ASUU suspend the strike.
“The NANS national leadership has directed students in the country to block airports, major highways, Federal and state secretariats, minsters offices and road leading to Aso Rock by next week,” he added.
