Osogbo - Scores of students in Osun, Ogun and Oyo states on Friday
reacted to Federal Government’s directive and the ultimatum given to
striking lecturers to return to school or be sacked.
Many of the students who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), advised the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts to resolve the issue through consistent dialogue.
Tokunbo Akindipe, a final year student of Sociology at the University of Ibadan, said it would be counterproductive for government to issue any threat at this time rather than persuasion.
“The government has, up till now, demonstrated a civilised attitude by engaging the lectures in dialogue in the past which I think it should continue to do to its logical conclusion.”
“Sincerely, I must commend President Jonathan for his democratic way of handling the issue from the inception and the level of patience he exhibited; this is the kind of method I expect him to sustain.”
“The Federal Government must exercise caution and be careful in order not to forfeit all the effort put into resolving this issue; this is therefore not the time for threats of any sort,” Akindipe said.
In the same vein, Sakirat Akintolu, a 300 level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta pleaded with government to be more patient with the striking lecturers.
Akintolu explained that the unfortunate death of one of their comrades in the person of Festus Iyayi, further worsened the situation as the strike would have been called off but for the tragic event.
“I urge government to show commitment to some of the demands of the university lecturers in order to obtain their confidence and allay their suspicion,” she said.
A union leader at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Comrade Kunle Bewaji, also advised government against any action that would further delay the resumption of the striking lecturers.
Bewaji said that at no time in the history of ASUU’s struggle in Nigeria had a threat of sack ever achieved anything.
“ASUU, as a pressure group, is a composition of intellectuals, people with high cerebral; it is inconceivable to coerce these individuals to action.”
“I would have expected the Federal Government to call the striking lecturers to a meeting again and find a way to seal the agreement reached to assure them of its seriousness.”
“As it is, the directive of the Federal Government to open the campuses and the threat of sacking the lecturers if they fail to resume will further jeopardise the peace process,” he stressed.
Many of the students who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), advised the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts to resolve the issue through consistent dialogue.
Tokunbo Akindipe, a final year student of Sociology at the University of Ibadan, said it would be counterproductive for government to issue any threat at this time rather than persuasion.
“The government has, up till now, demonstrated a civilised attitude by engaging the lectures in dialogue in the past which I think it should continue to do to its logical conclusion.”
“Sincerely, I must commend President Jonathan for his democratic way of handling the issue from the inception and the level of patience he exhibited; this is the kind of method I expect him to sustain.”
“The Federal Government must exercise caution and be careful in order not to forfeit all the effort put into resolving this issue; this is therefore not the time for threats of any sort,” Akindipe said.
In the same vein, Sakirat Akintolu, a 300 level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta pleaded with government to be more patient with the striking lecturers.
Akintolu explained that the unfortunate death of one of their comrades in the person of Festus Iyayi, further worsened the situation as the strike would have been called off but for the tragic event.
“I urge government to show commitment to some of the demands of the university lecturers in order to obtain their confidence and allay their suspicion,” she said.
A union leader at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Comrade Kunle Bewaji, also advised government against any action that would further delay the resumption of the striking lecturers.
Bewaji said that at no time in the history of ASUU’s struggle in Nigeria had a threat of sack ever achieved anything.
“ASUU, as a pressure group, is a composition of intellectuals, people with high cerebral; it is inconceivable to coerce these individuals to action.”
“I would have expected the Federal Government to call the striking lecturers to a meeting again and find a way to seal the agreement reached to assure them of its seriousness.”
“As it is, the directive of the Federal Government to open the campuses and the threat of sacking the lecturers if they fail to resume will further jeopardise the peace process,” he stressed.
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