Polytechnic students gathered outside the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja yesterday to protest against the government’s poor handling of the on-going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
The students, who together formed the National Association Polytechnic Students (NAPS), called for the immediate removal of the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, who they accused of being incapable of resolving the crisis.
They waved placards inscribed with messages like ‘Wike Must Go,’ ‘Government is Insensitive,’ ‘We are tired of being neglected’ but were soon dispersed by policemen and other security operatives.
NAPS President Sunday Ogbonnaya told journalists that part of their demands was to end the national discrimination of HND holders and better funding for polytechnics.
“The last meeting between ASUP and the Minister was inconclusive. ASUP initially had 13 demands, then streamlined them into four. Having entered into agreements with the union, it is unfair for the government to fail to yield to the agreement,” he said.
“We are tired of staying at home. We are totally in support of the 13 demands of the union and we are ready to give them all necessary support to make sure that those demands are met. We believe in dialogue, this protest would have come long ago but we decided to wait. But we want them to go back to work while negotiations continue.
“Let it be known to the public that what they are fighting for is in the interest of the general public”.
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