Student leaders from Akwa Ibom State have cried out to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to save them from prolonged stay out of school. The students under the auspices of Akwa Ibom Students Leaders’ Forum in a statement in Abuja lamented that they were tired of staying at home. The statement was signed by 52 Akwa Ibom student leaders drawn from within and outside the state. They include the Vice President (Special Duties), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Ubon Marcus, Saviour Ekpe of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) Uyo, Comrade Joshua Akpan of the University of Uyo and Comrade Uko Michael Ukpong of the University of Uyo , among others. The students further urged a quick resolution of the Federal Government and ASUU impasse to prevent escalation in crime rate across the country. They said: “The quick implication of this strike borders also on internal security as crime rate will soar, because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. “We are not laying blames for the current impasse but all we want is to go back to school and we want to do so as soon as possible. “We hereby appeal to ASUU and Federal Government to kindly ensure that the strike is called off and students return to classes as we are tired of being idle. We do not intend to be students for ever. “Think about our future. Think about our respective families that have suffered to send us through school and the financial implication of our continued stay in school on their lean resources. We are tired of this strike. We want to go back to school.” The students lamented that the strike which was called to positively improve the nation’s tertiary education is today having a negative impact on the students. They said: “While we salute the doggedness and resilience of ASUU towards ensuring that the 2009 agreement is implemented by the Federal Government, we wish to remind both ASUU and the Federal Government that this strike is affecting us negatively. “ASUU embarked on strike with the aim of achieving positive developments in the education sector but with the prolonged strike coupled with FG and ASUU’s uncompromising stance, the reverse is the case. “ASUU has accused the Federal Government of insincerity in implementing the 2009 agreement, while the Federal Government on its part has accused ASUU of making unrealistic demands. “We are hereby calling on both parties to consider the hardship imposed on us due to this strike. As the saying goes that when two elephants fight the grasses suffer, we the students are the casualties in this case. “There are some self sponsored students who make a living through small businesses like selling recharge cards on campus and other business ventures but with this strike, economic activities have been paralysed for such students. The question is: How will they survive? “Additionally, while the strike is ongoing, we are growing older without commensurate academic attainment but the age limit for employment is not adjusting to reflect strike. “In fact, most companies do not employ any person who is above 25 years as a fresh graduate. Is this not a ploy to give our colleagues in private universities and those studying abroad undue advantage over us? What wrong have we done in attending public universities?”
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 22:31:15 +0000
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