After spending 68 days away from the classroom, students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo, on Thursday took to the streets to protest the continued closure of the institution.
The protesting students blocked all the major roads around the university town, demanding an immediate end to the prolonged industrial action by the university workers.
The protest, led by the Students’ Union Government (SUG), saw the students barricade the university’s main gate and adjoining roads linking the institution to the major highway.
ALSO READ: 2027: Sanwo-Olu, Lai Mohammed, Gbenga Daniel seek credible polls
They expressed frustration over the prolonged disruption of their academic programmes and uncertainty over when classes would resume.
The students, armed with placards with various inscriptions such as “Don’t waste our life and time , “ ASUU, NASU, NAAT, SSANU have mercy “Enough is Enough.” among others, called on the government, university management and other relevant stakeholders to urgently resolve the issues and reopen the university for academic activities.
Speaking with journalists during the protest, the SUG President, Comrade Folagbade Ayoola, said the students had reached their limit after weeks of remaining at home without any clear indication of when academic activities would resume.
Ayoola said the situation had become particularly difficult for students who continued to bear the financial burden of their education while the workers whose services they depended on were reportedly owed salaries.
He said, “We cannot keep silent because we are really facing challenges in our university. Imagine students having to pay school fees while lecturers’ salaries are not being paid.
“ASUU had demands before the government, but after a series of meetings and the failure to get the necessary response, the union embarked on an indefinite strike.”
According to him, repeated assurances had failed to produce a concrete solution, forcing the students to take their grievances to the streets.
“We keep hearing promises and pushing for a solution, but nothing concrete has happened. At this point, we have no other option than to come out and make our voices heard.
“Until the strike is called off, we are not going to back down. We will continue to protest and use every legitimate means possible to ensure that our voices are heard,” he said.
The SUG General Secretary, Oluwatimileyin Amos, said the prolonged closure had left students in a state of confusion, particularly those in their final stages of study who were waiting to write examinations and complete their programmes.
“We have been on strike for 68 days now, and something needs to be done. We need an immediate resolution and action because our students are suffering.
“This is an injury to one and an injury to all, so we are calling on students to solidarise with us and let our voices be heard,” Amos said.
He said the situation had also created uncertainty over accommodation, movement and other personal arrangements, as students were unsure when the institution would reopen.
“Students are in a dilemma. They do not know whether to travel or stay back. This has caused a lot of hardship for students, especially the pending graduates whose examinations are approaching.
“We need the strike to be called off with immediate resolution.
For over 60 days now, we have been at home. We have tried our best by engaging the management and important stakeholders who we believe can intervene and ensure that the strike is called off.
“We are not asking for too much. We just want to resume and continue our academic activities. We urge the government to do the needful and end this strike,” he said.
He appealed to the students to remain peaceful while the union continued its efforts to resolve the crisis.
A 500-level student, Ogungbade James, appealed to the government and other stakeholders to resolve the outstanding issues, saying students, particularly those nearing graduation, were bearing the brunt of the prolonged industrial action.
He urged the authorities to act urgently to ensure that the students returned to campus and were allowed to complete their academic programmes without further delay.