NLC Protest: Osun Speaker Laments With ASUU , Students

The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Timothy Owoeye, has lamented with the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and National Association of Nigeria students (NANS) over the prolonged strike action embarked upon by the union as Nigeria labour Congress (NLC) took protest to assembly.

The protesters which include members from the NLC, ASUU, TUC, CSOs and NANS,staged themselves in large numbers at popular Ogo-Oluwa filling station in Osogbo, Osun state capital as early as 8:30am on Tuesday with placards and banners with various inscriptions, such as “Our Children deserve better life”, “Enough is Enough”, “Reopen our Universities Now”, “Acced to the requests University workers” among others.

Speaking at the State House of Assembly, the NLC Chiarman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, who was represented by his vice chairman Gbadebo Awotayo, expressed worry over the prolonged strike action.

“We are here this morning as directed by our National Headquarter, Nigeria Labour Congress under the leadership of Comrade Phillip Wabba who has seen and want to intervene on the ASUU strike.

“The NLC is saying there must be an end to this strike. That is why we are protesting today to the House of Assembly and Governor’s office.we don’t want our children to stay at home any longer. We want the strike to end now.

“We want the government to see the funding of our university as a priority. If possible, there should be an act that will stop ministers and others in government from sending their children abroad, then they will be able to take care of Nigerian universities.”

He therefore called for immediate reopening of the universities in order to safeguard further damages already incurred on the educational system.

Rt Hon Owoeye,responding, expressed disappointment in the educational system as he received mammoth protesters from Osun State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) who were in solidarity with ASUU over the five months old strike.

The speaker stressed that no country in the world can strive in and out without good educational system where the academic environments are conducive for learning for students and good welfare package for the lecturers.

“I want to tell you that we are into it together as your representatives. We are not happy for keeping our children at home for almost 157 days.

“I have never seen a developing country playing with the education system as that of Nigeria”, the speaker added.

He however, promised to communicate the requests of the Labour unions to the appropriate quarters.