Polytechnic Students Take Up Arms Over Strike, Discrimination

Also among their demands is the removal of the ceiling imposed on Higher National Diploma holders in the public civil service.

National Association of Polytechnic Student (NAPS), President, Sunday Ogbonnaya, told newsmen in Abuja, that the discrimination would no more be condoned, hence their support of the Higher National Diploma Holders Association of Nigeria's intention to sue the Federal Government over the matter.

“Instead of celebrating practical aspect of what one can do, our system celebrates certificate and that is what is killing our system today,” Ogbonnaya told pressmen.

Ogbonnaya also sought an end to the prolonged ASUP strike.

“Actually, the issue of this strike has got out of hand and the truth is that we the students are at the receiving end. It is said that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers it. And that is what is happening today," he said.

Polytechnic students have on several occasions protested the prolonged strike and even threatened to disrupt the ongoing national conference in Abuja.

Recently, ASUP National President, Chibuzo Asomugha, accused the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, of being "distracted from our (ASUP) cuase" and on April 29, protesting ASUP members were attacked with tear gas and hot water by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

ASUP leaders have since vowed not to call off the strike, which started since April 2013, if their demands are not met.