ASUU Strike: Education Minister, Adamu Walks Out On Protesting Students [Video]

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has walked out on students of tertiary institutions under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) who met him due to the incessant strikes by the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU).

Adamu Adamu Walks Out On NANS Students

KanyiDaily recalls that on February 14, ASUU had embarked on a one-month warning strike over the failure of the federal government to meet its demands.

While addressing the minister on Monday, February 28, NANS president, Sunday Asefon demanded an immediate end to the ongoing strike while negotiations continue.

He also called for the inclusion of the students in the negotiation process, threatening that students may ground activities nationwide as done during the #EndSARS protest.

The visibly angry minister said he was disappointed with the NANS leadership, adding that the government had done what was expected of it since the commencement of the strike.

Asefon said, “The key issue ASUU has continued to hammer on is the revitalisation of our institutions, which is important for every student to key into. But you cannot be discussing the revitalisation of our institution without Nigerian students being in that negotiation committee.

“Nigerian students want to be part of this committee. We want to really know what is going on between ASUU and the federal government…We are tired of the incessant strike in our education sector.

“Honourable Minister, we saw it on social media, you celebrated your son who graduated from a university outside this country. Our parents do not have that money to send us outside the country. But let us enjoy what we are paying for. We want adequate funding for education in this country.

“If our schools are not open, this will not be the last protest. This is not a threat – when we said we would be coming out, here we are. Today, Niger road is blocked, Benue is blocked, Adamawa is blocked. If care is not taken, this will be worse than EndSARS.”

Apparently angered by the issues raised, the minister reportedly told the protesting students that the only thing worthy of note in the issues raised was the inclusion of students in the negotiation process.

Adamu said, “Instead of coming here, you should have met your lecturers there. Perhaps the only point that you make that is worthy of attention is; you said students should be involved in this and I think, probably, this is a very good thing.

“And it is the only thing I am going to take out of all you have said here,” the minister said before stepping out of his conference room where he met with them.

The protesting students shut the gates of the ministry for hours to deny the minister and workers of the ministry entry and exit. They marched round the building chanting songs such as “Adamu must go”.

Watch the video below:

 

KanyiDaily had reported that yesterday, several students across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions staged a protest in Abuja and some other parts of the nation over the lingering ASUU strike.