Federal Poly Ede Students Reacts To Planned ASUP indefinite strike commencing Tomorrow

Julius James, student of Agricultural Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, admitted that if the strike commences after the ultimatum ‘’it will affect final year students because they are almost rounding off the semester. The implication is that it will also affect our results. If the results do come out early, it will affect our chances of getting direct admission or even going for IT. My advice to government is to call stakeholders and relevant officials involved so that they can resolve the issues amicably.”

In his reaction, the President, Students Union of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Rufai Lukman, of the Department of Computer Engineering, called on government to urgently meet the demands of the lecturers to ensure the smooth running of academic activities in the polytechnic.

“Government should try to pay all their outstanding arrears of allowances. The proposed strike is unavoidable because I believe that government has the wherewithal to meet all their demands. These outstanding issues that are about to lead to strike have been lingering for a long time. Government should settle with them amicably before the general elections next year.”

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“If ASUP happen to go on the strike, students can hijack the situation and embark on riot to protest the disruption of their academic activities. Also, the female students may embark on prostitution if they are out of school.

The students union Public Relations Officer of Federal Polytechnic, Ede,, Victor Ilesanmi of the Department of Statistics said that government has no option than to meet the demands of ASUP.

“They need to be motivated so that they can show adequate commitment to their duties. Government should not only pay them regular salaries and outstanding arrears of their allowances but also promote them and increase their salaries. A labourer deserves his wages.

“If the lecturers are allowed to proceed on the strike, it will affect the whole system. Strike will prolong the academic programmes. Some of us spent three years for an ND programme that is supposed to be 18 months due to the 14 months ASUP strike in 2013/2014. Another strike can lead to disruption of our programmes.

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Olusola Emmanuel, the Speaker of Parliament, Students Union of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, who is in the Department of Chemistry said “The strike is a bad omen for students. We don’t pray for it. The past ASUP strikes disrupted our academic activities and calendars. For instance, in my set, we did a regular ND part time programme that was supposed to last for three years, but we ended up spending four years due to the last ASUP strike. We are now in HND programme.

“With another strike, we can’t graduate in August next year. The longer the strike, the longer it will take us to graduate and go for the NYSC. Strike can frustrate some students. When some are out of school, they may not come back when the strike is called off and end up as drop out and hoodlums.”

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A female student from the same institution, Afolabi Adenike of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, advised government to invite ASUP national officers to a round table discussion and reach a consensus on the outstanding demands.

“Government should urgently look into their demands because they are very special to the country’s education system. Their demands are justified. Another ASUP strike is bad news for students. I have heard about it but I am sure many of my colleagues are not yet aware. They will be shocked if the lecturers go on strike again.

The clock is ticking fast, while students and parents expect the federal government and ASUP to resolve the issues in contention before December 12 ultimatum.

COEASU just suspended its two-month-old strike after government promised to address some of the demands.

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