According to PremiumTimes The National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS, on Friday, held a protest at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja to demand the removal of the Supervising Minster of Education, Nyesom Wike.
The students also demanded that the lingering strike, which has lasted for a straight seven months, be called off.
The senate president of NAPS, Salamudin Lukman, told PREMIUM TIMES that the students protested because they were tired and frustrated of waiting for the Federal Government to resolve the lingering ASUP strike.
The senate president of NAPS, Salamudin Lukman, told PREMIUM TIMES that the students protested because they were tired and frustrated of waiting for the Federal Government to resolve the lingering ASUP strike.
“We had earlier on told them that they should please ensure that the issue is resolved but up on till now nothing has been done. So we have run out of patience.
“We have therefore passed a vote of no confidence on the Minister of Education, Wike. We are also asking Mr. President to remove the Minister of Education with immediate effect,” Mr. Lukman said.
During the protest, the aggrieved students blocked the road and gate of the secretariat carrying
household items.
household items.
“We came out with our beds, stoves, brooms we are not ready to leave here till our campuses are reopened, we are ready to sleep here cook here bath here till we are attended to before we leave we came fully prepared,” Mr. Lukman said.
The protesters, however, left after they were addressed by a ministry official.
The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Chike Uwaezuoke, who addressed the protesting students, said the government is trying everything possible to see that the strike is called off.
The protesters, however, left after they were addressed by a ministry official.
The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Chike Uwaezuoke, who addressed the protesting students, said the government is trying everything possible to see that the strike is called off.
Also, Simeon Nwakaudu, Mr. Wike’s spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES that the students have been misinformed about the negotiations between the government and the striking lecturers.
“They are Nigerians and have every right to protest, just that they have always been misinformed. We have discovered that this union is not aware of the issues going on. The real facts have not been opened to them, and the facts we talk about are clear facts. Everything has been settled by the Federal government,” he said.
He added that the issue of the discrimination between university and polytechnic graduates will take a longer process before it would be finally removed.
“The president himself has stepped into the issue of dichotomy and that will be resolved shortly. It just will not be solved as immediate as the rest; it will take a long time.”
The students, however, said they would continue the protest next week if the strike was not called off before then.
“After several appeal form the ministry’s personnel, we have therefore decided to give another one week grace and will be back next week if the strike is not suspend and the HND/BSC certificate discrimination removed,” he said.
“After several appeal form the ministry’s personnel, we have therefore decided to give another one week grace and will be back next week if the strike is not suspend and the HND/BSC certificate discrimination removed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the striking lecturers, ASUP, have indicated their intention to embark on a protest on April 29.
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