The Students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Udufu-Alike Ikwo, have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to address the incessant strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
The students also asked the President to provide adequate hostel accommodation owing to reason that the institution which began academic activities in 2011 with less than 500 students has over 10,000 population.
The President of the Students’ Union of the University, (AE-FUNAI), Comrade Obinna Okorie, made this appeal when the presidential visitation panel which was set up recently by the federal government held a town hall meeting at the University premises.
Okorie further explained that the only hostel accommodation in the campus only house 10 percent of Students’ population.
“Mr. Chairman, we have some grievances which if met the students will have a very conducive environment to learn and one of the challenges is students’ hostel in the campus.
“As I talk to you, we have a hostel that accommodate 1,682 Students while as we are over 10,000 students.
“Mr Chairman, on behalf of the students, we are pleading to the federal government to provide us with proper accommodation that would at least accommodate 90 percent of the students studying in FUNAI.
“Again, we appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency address the issue of incessant strikes by ASUU and SSANU. Students are tried and we cannot afford to go back home”, he pleaded
Responding, Amb Usman Sarki, leader of the panel, called on the staff, management and the various unions in the university, including the host community to come forth with their complaints, views and opinions which he assured would be made available to the President.
He, however, said the panel was given only 60 days to finish and tender its reports.
