There was gridlock on the Benin-Lagos road on Tuesday as students of the University of Benin blocked the ever-busy road at the entrance of the Ugbowo campus of the institution following the warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The National Executive Congress (NEC) of ASSU had declared a one-month warning strike to compel the Federal Government to implement the renegotiated 2009 agreement.
The protester carried placards with various inscriptions such as “5-year course don turn to 7 years; “FG settle ASUU” and “Enough is Enough”.
They turned the road into a football field while the student union leaders were seen sharing water, soft drinks and snacks for refreshment.
The protest caused heavy gridlock, thereby forcing motorists to take alternative routes while passengers who were stranded had to walk long distances before getting vehicles to their destinations.
Speaking for the protesting students, the SUG president, Foster Amadin, said they had been frustrated with the perennial strike by the ASSU, as a four-year course now takes five years and above.
“For two days now, we have not been having lectures because there is no lecturer to teach us. So,
we asked what was happening, they told us ASUU is on strike again and that they are on a one-month warning strike”
“We are here to get the federal government attention and attend to the demands of ASUU. Let ASUU also considers the federal government. We want to go back to our classes so that we can graduate and leave school”.
He, however, appealed to the people to understand the reason they were protesting.
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