Vehicular Movement Grounded As Student Protest For Hours in Oshogbo, Oshun State

NANS Protest in Osun State

Vehicular movement was grounded for hours in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, yesterday as students under the aegis of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) blocked a major road to express their grievances over the ongoing strike by lecturers in the state owned polytechnics and colleges of education.

Chairman of Osun State chapter of NANS, Mr. Awowole Samuel, while addressing the students during the protest, said government must address the issue as a matter of urgency.

The students also urged the state government to recruit more teaching staff for the state owned higher institutions and provide adequate learning equipment in the institutions.

"We are compelled to troop out again as a result of the incessant strike by our lecturers. Sadly, Osun State government has done little or nothing to persuade our lecturers to go back to work," he said.

Our correspondent reports that Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu, spent several hours with the students appealing to them to open the road and allow vehicles to move, but the students refused to grant his request.

Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Information, Sunday Akere said: "As a government, we are doing everything possible to resolve the impasse. We met with the leadership of students over the weekend, so we did not expect the protests this morning. We are still holding meetings with their leaders. We appeal to the students to remain calm".