…Calls on AAUA, OAUSTECH, UNIMED students to join Tuesday protest
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Ondo State, has announced plans to shut down the state from Tuesday in protest against the prolonged strike affecting state owned universities in the state.
The NANS JCC Chairman, Ondo State, Comrade Adekanye Mayomi Adeboye, disclosed this in a statement issued to students, saying the action would continue until the Ondo State Government resolves the lingering issues responsible for the industrial action.
Adeboye said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) branch, had been on strike since last month.
According to him, the strike was suspended two weeks ago but lecturers embarked on another industrial action last week, resulting in further disruption of academic activities.
He said all state owned universities in Ondo State had now joined the strike, leaving students across the institutions stranded.
The students’ leader said NANS JCC had consequently resolved to mobilise students for a peaceful statewide protest beginning on Tuesday, stressing that the action was aimed at compelling the state government to urgently address the crisis.
He called on students of AAUA, the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) to participate in the protest.
Adeboye also announced the postponement of the “From Students to CEO” entrepreneurship programme earlier scheduled to hold during the period.
He said the programme had been rescheduled to August 31, explaining that the students’ body could not continue with celebrations and entrepreneurial activities while academic activities remained suspended.
“We cannot be having merriment while our classrooms remain closed,” he said.
The NANS JCC chairman said the venue for Tuesday’s protest would be announced later, while urging students to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the exercise.
He appealed to the Ondo State Government to urgently intervene and resolve the issues between the government and the affected universities to enable students return to their classrooms.
He concluded with the students’ movement slogan: “Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta.”
