The students of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) on Monday, appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) not to embark on another Industrial action (strike), until after their second semester exams.
The students’ plea follows a reported ASUU’s congress meeting slated for today (Monday), to deliberate on the Federal Government’s alleged failure to pay its members’ salaries after resuming work on Oct. 14 from its eight months strike.
The students who spoke with newsmen in Lokoja said it will be disastrous if their exams scheduled for November 14th doesn’t hold.
A Political Science student, Joy Abuh, said her prayer is that the ASUU’s congress will not end up with the resumption of the suspended strike.
She said; “We have just settled down after the strike suspension and are seriously preparing for our second-semester exams starting next Monday.’’
“It will be disastrous for us in FUL if the exams will not be held as scheduled, considering the eight months we have wasted at home.’’
“My fervent prayer is that the union will not declare any strike at the end of their meeting today in Abuja.”
A Department of Education student, Adeiza Ibrahim said; “I think much damage has been done to the Nation’s education system, and there should be due consideration for a turn of a new leaf because we’re talking about our future, the youths of this Country.’’
“If at the end, we won’t be allowed to write this semester’s exams, then it will be so terrible and devastating.”
Another student Apeyemi Abubakar, who is in 100 Level Chemistry Education said; “All we are begging for is for ASUU to allow us write this examination without any hindrance”.
“We have stayed home longer than necessary and now that we are back on campus, the Federal Government and ASUU should not allow anything to tamper with our educational pursuits anymore.”
The FUL ASUU Chairman, Dr Joshua Silas on his part said; “We have no power of our own as a chapter to disobey our National body if it asks us to resume strike today, Nov 7.’’
“As I speak with you, I am already in Abuja for ASUU’s Congress meeting held today. Everything will rest on the outcome of the congress.”
Silas said if eventually the union resumes its strike after today’s congress; “I will indeed sympathise with our students, whose time table for the second semester exams is out and commencing Monday, Nov 14 with all things being equal.”