Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has told protesting students at the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU) in Ekpoma that his government will take the required steps to reopen the university despite the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ continued strike (ASUU).
On Tuesday, students stormed the Authorities House in Benin City in a peaceful demonstration, giving the government one week to assure the institution’s reopening or face a mass action by the students.
Speaking to the demonstrators, Obaseki, who was represented by Mr. Crusoe Osagie, his Special Adviser on Media Projects, stated that education remained a major priority for the administration, which will take swift steps to guarantee that kids return to class.
He said, “All that the leader of this protest has said today is in line with what the Edo State Government wants to do for the students of the institution. We have a challenge as the hand of the government is tied to some extent due to the activities of the various unions. Most institutions, including AAU, have staff unions and easily join strike actions called at the federal level; this is not in the best interest of the students and lecturers.
“Incessant strikes have become a problem in our higher institutions. Our proposition as a government is that at some point our lecturers should put the interest of the students above their own. We believe that the reason they sit at home during the ASUU strike is that at the end of the day, whether they teach or not, they will be paid, and this is wrong.”
“We call on university lecturers and workers in the university to come together and make a decision in the best interest of the students because the government is willing to support the institution with the resources it needs to run,” he charged.
“Lecturers should realize that the education of the students is more essential than their unionism,” Obaseki continued. Other measures are being considered by the government to assist pupils in overcoming their difficulties. Instead of going on strike, I urge them to join together and allow the pupils to learn.
“I assure you that the one-week ultimatum given will be adhered to by the Governor as he will take steps and actions needed to get students back to school. I want to appeal to you that when the government takes its decision, the students should rise up in support of the government so that lecturers will abide by the decision of the government.”
Earlier, Odiahi Thomas Ikhine, Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) (Special Duties), said the peaceful protest was held to express their dissatisfaction with the current ASUU strike, which has kept students at home for months.
He urged the governor to follow the example set by Kogi State, where there is no labor union and the academic calendar runs smoothly without strikes.
“In Kogi State, there is no staff union and their academic calendar runs to favour the students; a four-year course is a four-year course. There is no strike and the students are happy. I call on the governor to borrow the Kogi example to put the National ASUU strike to an end in AAU.
“We are here today to let you know that we are tired of the whole situation and we are giving the government one week to take drastic action to ensure that AAU is open and there are lecturers on the ground to lecture students. We want all academic activities to resume in full. We will be back in the next one week if things don’t change.”