Abuja university students protest ASUU strike

Students of the University of Abuja on Monday staged a peaceful protest against the prolonged nationwide strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The protesting students called for an end to the strike, saying that it had paralysed academic activities in the nation’s universities and was gradually mortgaging their future.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesting students, who carried placards, first converged on the SDP Junction in Gwagwalada before moving towards the Airport Road.

They urged ASUU and the Federal Government (FG) to amicably address the issues that constitute the "bone of contention" in the overall interest of the students and the nation at large.

One of the student union leaders, Mr Toyonkiki Sunday, said that the protest was to draw the attention of ASUU and the FG to the pitiable plight of the students.

Sunday said that students were fed up with staying at home indefinitely and implored the two parties to explore all avenues to resolve the dispute amicably and immediately.

"Our only reason for staging this protest is to draw the attention of ASUU and the government to our plight; we are tired of staying at home," he said.

Another student, Peter Egbe, a 300-level English Language student said that ASUU and the FG "should, by whatever means, resolve their differences as soon as possible to enable us return to class".

NAN reports that all efforts to get the views of the university PRO on the students’ protest proved abortive.