Earlier today, students from
different Nigerian polytechnic universities -- such as Ofa Polytechnic
and Ilaro Polytechnic -- joined their counterparts of the Yaba College
of Technology in Lagos, protesting the continued denial of Polytechnic
staff's demands by the government.
The students-turned-protesters united under the auspices of the Concerned Students Against Education Commercialization (COSATEC), converged not far from the front gate of Yaba College of Technology and the offices of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Yaba.
They took to the streets, marching towards the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota.
On their way, the studets chanted protest songs aimed at the government and corruption. They declared they aligned themselves with the demands of their lecturers.
"If [our lecturers'] demands are met, the quality of education we receive is going to be improved," said one of the protesters.
A great number of students lamented that the ongiong strike will affect their academic and professional futures in a negative way.
A lecturer at Yaba College of Technology said their two-month strike became inevitable due to the government's failure to implement contractual agreements negotiated since 2009.
"Till date, they have refused to meet their obligations to us. It is a sign of irresponsibility on the part of government that they flout agreements they made themselves."
The contentious issues include the dismal condition state of state-owned polytechnics, the appointment of unqualified persons as rectors by some state governments, the refusal of some states to implement approved salary packages for polytechnics, and failure to adopt 65 years as the retirement age.
The striking lecturers also oppose the continued recognition of the NBTE as a regulatory body for Nigerian polytechnics instead of creating a National Polytechnics Commission.
They are also demanding an immediate amendment of the Federal Polytechnics Act.
Student leaders at the Yaba College of Technology said they had decided not to participate in the protests.
"We are happy that the government is talking with the relevant polytechnic unions with a view to resolve the problems. That's why we are not joining the protests," one of the leaders said.
The students-turned-protesters united under the auspices of the Concerned Students Against Education Commercialization (COSATEC), converged not far from the front gate of Yaba College of Technology and the offices of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Yaba.
They took to the streets, marching towards the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota.
On their way, the studets chanted protest songs aimed at the government and corruption. They declared they aligned themselves with the demands of their lecturers.
"If [our lecturers'] demands are met, the quality of education we receive is going to be improved," said one of the protesters.
A great number of students lamented that the ongiong strike will affect their academic and professional futures in a negative way.
A lecturer at Yaba College of Technology said their two-month strike became inevitable due to the government's failure to implement contractual agreements negotiated since 2009.
"Till date, they have refused to meet their obligations to us. It is a sign of irresponsibility on the part of government that they flout agreements they made themselves."
The contentious issues include the dismal condition state of state-owned polytechnics, the appointment of unqualified persons as rectors by some state governments, the refusal of some states to implement approved salary packages for polytechnics, and failure to adopt 65 years as the retirement age.
The striking lecturers also oppose the continued recognition of the NBTE as a regulatory body for Nigerian polytechnics instead of creating a National Polytechnics Commission.
They are also demanding an immediate amendment of the Federal Polytechnics Act.
Student leaders at the Yaba College of Technology said they had decided not to participate in the protests.
"We are happy that the government is talking with the relevant polytechnic unions with a view to resolve the problems. That's why we are not joining the protests," one of the leaders said.
No comments:
Post a Comment