By Emmanuel Chigbata, Student Staff Reporter
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Tuesday protested on the streets of Awka, Anambra State over the strike action embarked the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the continued closure of universities all over the country.
The protesters who brandished placards and banners gave one week to the Federal Government and ASUU reopen universities, or risk having the country shut down.
The protest caused gridlock in the Aroma Junction and nearby streets in Awka.
Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman of the Anambra State chapter of NANS, Comrade Peter Onyemaefe said ASUU and Federal Government were destroying the future of the youths and the country, noting that such must stop.
According to him, the federal government and ASUU were toying with the future of the country by keeping its productive youths idle for months.
He said it was a shame that for a four years programme, most Nigerian students now spend six to seven years without hope of graduation, nor any hope after graduation.
“Students are registering their grievances on continuous strike in the universities. Every six months or less there must be strike in the universities. They are toying with our future. A programme that is supposed to last for four years will last six to seven years.
“We pay extra house rent, we pay extra school fee, extra feeding allowances because of the incessant strike. Many students are now getting involved in armed robbery, prostitution, yahoo, yahoo, and many other criminal activities.
“We are giving government and ASUU one week to resolve their problems or face shutting down the country. We will continue to create crises until they do the needful. They are playing with us. We are saying no to manipulation. We are saying that we want to go back to school.” he said.
The President Students Union Government of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Comrade Charles Ijeoma, said students want to go back to their classrooms and would not want to rush their studies if school reopens and failure to heed to their call would lead to massive protest.
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