University students in Benue State have staged a peaceful march to protest what they described as unbearable and continuous strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, across the country.
The students who marched to the Federal Secretary, in Makurdi, to register their grievances chanted solidarity song, bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Adamu Must Go,” “Federal Government, Make Education A Priority,” “Education is a Right not a Privilege,” among others.
The students under the name, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Benue state chapter, urged ASUU to end the nation wide strike saying the exercise has frustrated both students and academic activities over the years.
Speaking during the protest, Maxwell Faasema and Joseph Kizito, who led students from both the federal and state universities in Benue, called on the federal government and ASUU to resolve the lingering impasse permanently to enable students return to class, stating that students are the ones suffering from the strike action.
Faasema noted that “each time the federal government and ASUU are fighting, the students suffer. Our age is not reversible, our house rent in our various campuses is non-refundable to us. So, we are here to state categorically that we are no longer comfortable with this situation and the federal government should treat education as a priority.
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“Education is a right and not a privilege. It is a right that any rational government, all over the world, would defend and provide for it citizens. We applied to study for four years but we end up staying for five, six years. It is a big challenge. Government must rise to its responsibilities.”
Receiving the protesting students, Chairman of All Heads of Federal Establishment in Benue State, Mr. Batholomew Anande, and Babawale O. A, Director, Federal Education Quality and Assurance Service Benue state, thanked them for their peaceful conduct and assured them that their complaints will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for immediate action.
“We are with you in this pain. We also have children who are in schools just like you. Your message has been received. Continue to maintain the peace you have exhibited. We are going to take your complaints to the federal government who will bring solution to this matter.”
