Save our future, students’ leaders urge Fed Govt, ASUU

Student leaders from Akwa Ibom State
yesterday urged the Federal Government and
the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) to save them from prolonged stay out
of school.
The students, under the aegis of Akwa Ibom
Students Leaders' Forum, in a statement in
Abuja, said they were tired of staying at home.
The statement was signed by 52 student leaders
from within and outside the state.
They are: the Vice President (Special Duties),
National Association of Nigerian Students
(NANS), Comrade Ubon Marcus; Saviour Ekpe,
of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ)
Uyo; Comrade Joshua Akpan, of the University
of Uyo and Comrade Uko Michael Ukpong, also
of the University of Uyo, among others.
The students called for a quick resolution of
the Federal Government/ASUU impasse to
prevent increased crimes in the country.
They said: "The implication of this strike
borders also on internal security, as crime rate
will soar, because an idle mind is the devil's
workshop.
"We are not laying the blame for the current
impasse. All we want is to go back to school
and we want to do so as soon as possible.
"We hereby appeal to ASUU and the Federal
Government to kindly ensure that the strike is
called off and students return to classes
because we are tired of being idle. We do not
intend to be students for ever.
"Think about our future; think about our
families, which have suffered to send us
through school, and the financial implication
of our continued stay in school on their lean
resources. We are tired of this strike. We want
to go back to school."
The students regretted that the strike, which
was called to improve the nation's tertiary
education, was having a negative impact on
the students.
They said: "While we salute the doggedness and
resilience of ASUU towards ensuring that the
2009 agreement is implemented by the Federal
Government, we wish to remind both ASUU
and the Federal Government that this strike is
affecting us negatively.
"ASUU embarked on the strike with the aim of
achieving positive developments in the
education sector, but with the prolonged
strike, coupled with the Federal Government's
and ASUU's uncompromising stance, the
reverse is the case.
"ASUU has accused the Federal Government of
insincerity in implementing the 2009
agreement, while the Federal Government has
accused ASUU of making unrealistic demands.
"We are hereby calling on both parties to
consider the hardship imposed on us due to
this strike. As goes the saying that when two
elephants fight, the grasses suffer, we, the
students, are the casualties in this case.
"There are some self-sponsored students who
make a living through small businesses, like
selling recharge cards on campus and other
business ventures. But with this strike,
economic activities have been paralysed for
such students. The question is: How will they
survive?
"Additionally, while the strike is ongoing, we
are growing older without commensurate
academic attainment but the age limit for
employment is not adjusting to reflect strike.
"In fact, most companies do not employ any
person who is above 25 years as a fresh
graduate. Is this not a ploy to give our
colleagues in private universities and those
studying abroad undue advantage over us?
What wrong have we done in attending public
universities?"