Angry students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Wednesday took to the main streets of Benin to kick against the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The protesting student blocked the ever-busy Benin-Ore-Sagamu road to register their frustration over the warning strike which started Monday following a directive after a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union in Lagos.
The teachers down tools after the Federal Government failed to implement the renegotiated 2009 agreement it had with the government.
Scores of students who converged at the main gate of Ugbowo campus entrance chanted were armed with placards with different slogans like “Education is our right”, “Five years course has turned to seven years”, “FG settle ASUU”, “Enough is Enough” among others.
The students appealed to the federal government to heed to ASUU’s demands
Some students turned the highway into a football field, playing in sets while the students’ leaders were sharing bottles of water, soft drink, pies and doughnuts to the demonstrators for refreshment.
The protest has caused a gridlock on the highway for hours, forcing many motorists to avoid the route while those going into the Edo capital had to divert their ways.
The President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Mr. Foster Amadin lamented that the students decided to go to the streets because they are tired of perennial strikes by the union.
Amadin wailed: “We came to the street to say we are tired. We hereby express our grievances to the federal government to the state government and whoever cares to listen. We say we are tired.
“We want to graduate. For a programme that is supposed to run for four years, we spend five years and even more. We don’t want it anymore.”
While calling on the federal government to meet the demands of ASUU, the activist said all the students want is to return to classes and graduate from the institution.
Amandi reiterated: “All we want is to go back to our classes. I want to graduate, I want to leave the school. I am tired and that is our grievance.”
