By Patrick Obia
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Monday in Calabar, protested the incessant strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
ASUU embarked on a month long total and comprehensive strike on February 14th, the 16th since 1999, to press home its demands for the implementation of the renegotiated agreement with the federal government.
And, the umbrella students union took to the streets nationwide to express its displeasure. In Cross River, the protest began at the main gate of the University of Calabar 90 minutes behind its earlier schedule due to a meeting of student leaders with Nigeria’s secret police, the SSS close to Malabor square in the campus.
The students who chanted solidarity songs marched to the State Ministry of Education where the Commissioner of Education, Amanke Ebunshua had threatened to walk away; a statement which raged the students and led to altercations and exchange of punches between the commissioner’s staff and the students.
But, minutes later, Mr. Ebunshua toned down his voice and sympathized with the students while imploring both ASUU and the federal givernment to return to the round table and sort things out to enable students return to studies.
The students later marched to the Governor’s office where they continued to chant and display placards with different inscriptions such as; “federal government stop delaying our future”, “end ASUU strike now”, “fix our state library” among others. Their demand to see Governor Ben Ayade or his deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu yielded no result.
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