By; Niyi Ogungbola, Abeokuta.
Students of the Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu-Ijebu in Ijebu – Ode local government area of Ogun State wednesday protested in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital over non-payment of salaries and allowances of teaching and non – teaching staff of the institution.
Armed with placards bearing different inscriptions, the protesting students stormed the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oke – Ilewo Abeokuta around 11am in six buses, chanting solidarity hymns to draw the attention of sympathizers to their course.
The protesting students demanded that the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun must within 48 hours, address the issues of non-payment of the 13 months salaries and allowances of lecturers and other workers’ of the institution or be ready to face further actions from the entire Nigerian students.
They threatened to occupy the Oke-Mosan seat of the government after the expiration of the 48 hours ultimatum, lamented that the industrial action embarked upon by the striking lecturers of the institution over non-payment of their salaries and allowances has taken a negative effect on them despite that they have paid the stipulated school fees.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards bore by the protesting students reads: “Amosun safe TASCE from extinction”; “We are the leaders of tomorrow”; “Don’t kill the future of the nation”; “Amosun, have mercy, we are born like you”, amongst others.
Speaking with journalists, President of the Student Union Government of the institution, Comrade Dairo Ibrahim explained that both teaching and non-teaching staff of the institution have suspended their services because of the failure of the state government to pay the workers.
Dairo further explained that lecture syllabus that is supposed to be covered in four months was rushed down on the students in just three weeks.
He also alleged that several letters have been written to the state government through the Commissioner of Education but without any reply.
In his reaction, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Modupe Mujota said the government was having extensive communication with the management of the institution towards finding a lasting solution to the matters.
According to her, the state government met with the management early Tuesday where proposals were presented.
She explained that the government was doing everything necessary to give wide attention to the proposal adding that the issues will soon be addressed.
