Students groan over lingering ASUU strike

By Deborah Onatunde

Nigerian students have bemoaned the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Recall that the union in February kicked off the industrial action, following the Federal Government’s refusal to grant its requests.

Again, the union extended the strike by four weeks as the government failed to heed its demands.

Speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect on Tuesday, Yemi Faloke, an undergraduate from the University of Ilorin, said urged the government to attend to the demands of ASUU, and treat the issue with urgency.

Faloke noted that the strike is inconsiderate and inappropriate as it stalls the academic progress of numerous students.

Bola Adebunmi, a 300 level student of the University of Benin (UNIBen) said the extension has had a bad effect on Nigerian students as they are mostly depressed.

She appeals to the Government for speedy support and response to ASUU.

“The extension of the ongoing strike is saddening. The strike has lasted for too long, and it is affecting many, many students are depressed as it is affecting us negatively.”

A psychology student from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) emphasised that students have lost interest academic activities as they now see education as a waste of time, thereby making clubbing and cybercrimes the trend of the day.

“Schooling is a waste of time and it is a scam, most students have lost interest in academic activities and now are following yahoo yahoo since that is paying.”

Another student from the Department of Mass Communication, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the strike happened when she was about to write her examination.

“I have been really affected. I was about to write my exams when the strike began, and this strike tells bad on us globally and to those Secondary students who intend to gain admission that  there is no need since it is a waste of time.”

However, despite the clamour for ASUU to call off the strike, Omose Deira believes that the union has made the right choice, noting that as the government is to blame for neglecting the pleas of the university lecturers.

“I won’t blame ASUU for the ongoing strike and its extension by four weeks because if their demands were not met why should they reconsider?”