Students of the University of Benin UNIBEN have actually opposed against the strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

To show their anger, the trainees on Wednesday, February 16, barricaded the ever-busy Benin-Ore-Sagamu expressway.

On Monday February 14, ASUU stated a four-week warning strike after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos. According to the union, the strike is to compel the Federal Government to carry out the renegotiated 2009 arrangement it had with the government.

The protesting students remained in their numbers by the entrance of the Ugbowo school of the university, chanting mottos and uniformity songs like “aluta continua …” and “education is our right,” among others.

They revealed their disappointment over the constant strike of university instructors and prompted the federal government to hearken to ASUU demands.

A few of the objecting students carried placards with numerous engravings such as “5 years course has turned to 7 years; “FG settle ASUU” and “Enough suffices.” Some of them turned the highway into a football field, playing in sets while the students’ leaders were sharing bottles of water, soda, pies, and doughnuts to the demonstrators for drink.

The students’ action caused a gridlock on the highway for about 4 hours, requiring numerous drivers to prevent the path while those going into the Edo capital had to divert their ways.

Speaking on behalf of the objecting trainees, the President of the Students Union Government (SUG) in the institution, Foster Amadin, stated

“Since two days now, we have been to our classes and there have actually not been lecturers to teach us. So we have absolutely nothing to do. We asked what was happening and they informed us ASUU is on strike again; that they are on one-month caution strike.

We now felt that we ought to come to the street to say we are tired. We thus reveal our grievances to the federal government, to the state government and whoever cares to listen and. We state we are tired.

We want to graduate. For a programme that is supposed to run for 4 years, we are spending 5 years and a lot more. We do not want it anymore. Let the federal government see to the needs of ASUU and let ASUU also consider the federal government’s position.

All we desire is to return to our classes. I want to finish; I wish to leave the school. I am worn out which is our complaint” < img src="https://eyewitness101.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/uniben-students-block-road-as-they-stage-protest-against-asuu-strike-photos-2.jpg" width="500" alt > < img src="https://eyewitness101.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/uniben-students-block-road-as-they-stage-protest-against-asuu-strike-photos-3.jpg" width="500" alt > ToriNG