Scores of students under the umbrella of the National Association of Polytechnic, on Saturday, in Ibadan, Oyo State, protested the continued closure of tertiary institutions in the country.
The protesting students said government must take decisive actions within 14 days to reopen schools in the interest of the students.
The aggrieved students argued that the continued closure of schools underscored the insensitivity of the leadership to education and the plight of students in the country.
NAPS leadership, during the peaceful protest in Ibadan, stated that with the re-opening of markets and worship centres, there was no basis for the continued closure of tertiary institutions.
NAPS National President, Olalere Adetunji; and Ilesanmi Moses, Students Union President, Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan, in their joint address said, “We cannot continue to keep mute in the face of bad policy, especially when it has to do with education. COVID-19 has come to stay; whether we agree or not, there is going to be a cure to it like malaria.
“All we need from the Federal Government is to stop partaking in the global politics and come out with a specific date for schools’ re-opening. The Federal Government has given guidelines on schools re-opening and everybody is ready to adhere strictly to the guidelines.
“The Federal Ministry of Education should wake up to the task. If the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics is not ready to go back to class, their salary should be stopped henceforth. “But, if the Federal Government refuses to give a specific date, between now and the next 14 days, the entire polytechnic students across the country would not hesitate to mobilise in millions across the streets in Nigeria. We are ready to stop the economy.”