PROTEST; FED POLY, OKO STUDENTS STORMS THE STREET DEMANDS END ASUP STRIKE.

It was an outrageous situation, at Federal Polytechnic, Oko on 19th July 2022 as the student of Fed poly Oko, staged a massive protest. 

This was necessitated out of the need to put an end to the crisis ravaging Students in Federal Polytechnic Oko ranging from the inability of the management to conduct a credible and Fair SUG Election, The incessant increments in school payments, Unwarranted extortion of students, delay in the publishing of students results among many others. 

All these demands was made according to the correspondence, speaking with Comr Nwogu Kelvin and miss Lovelen. the protest attracted the presence of the NANs zone F and NAPs,  as the NANs Officials along  some Students had a dialogue with the rector on the demands, While thanking the management for the warm reception, the Zone F Coordinator, Comr Ibeawuchi Moses (IBB) presented the demands of the students to the rector.

He reiterated his commitment to prioritizing the welfare of Nigerian Students across board as well as encouraging the management to see to the end of the strike as it affects the students more.

Some of the write up on the placards students were holding during the protests reads;

"We don't have money to pay for Extra Accommodation," "Stop Extorting us oooo, we no dey steal," "Stop intimidating us, give us the date for SUG Election," "We are getting Old, Stop ASUP STRIKE," among many others.

The Rector of the Polytechnic while addressing the NANS, NAPS, and Students' Delegates said the Polytechnic led by her has performed tremendously in terms of accrediting many courses and bringing in HND Program to departments that have only ND such as Mechanical Engineering, etc. 

According to her "Through the efforts of the School, We have erected many buildings like the Chemical Engineering department which is ongoing, The Staff Welfare is being taken care of and many staff has been promoted as well."

"In this administration, the Governing Council in recent time approved for the Rector to pay the ASUP three months of their excess workloads without minding the Financial status of the institution. This has caused a face-off between the Management and the ASUP since the payment was not forthcoming due to the Financial capacity of the institution. What is happening today is not ordinary but to stir up chaos in the institution. On the issue of the time frame for the school fees payment, the policy is from the academic board which I am promising the students that it will be extended by one month after which late payment will commence. We are going to conduct Students Congress soon after the SUG Election, in the Congress those working in the medicals can explain to the Students the numerous payment in the medical section, likewise the ICT and EED personnel."

On the #500 EED payment, the Rector explained that the Local Organizing Committee in charge of that Business Summit was the one that told students to pay it. "I will contact the committee to inquire more on it," she said. For ICT Increment in fees, the Rector informed that it is from the service providers and the students should stop making payments that receipt will not be issued.

Speaking to the Press, the coordinator of Zone F said that the issues that necessitated the protest were all presented to the rector who will provide solutions in no distance time. In his words, "Why we are here is to register our grievances on the things happening in the institution, We have heard from the rector the cause of the strike, and we are going to write to engage the ASUP Leadership so as to provide a solution to the internal strike. The SUG Election will be conducted in no distant time and the NANS Zone F Financial secretary has been saddled with the responsibility to see that the Election is Organized with the necessary bodies. 

Some of the NANS and NAPS Leaders present include, Comr Moses Ibeawuchi (IBB) Coordinator NANS Zone F, Comr. Okafor Ernest NANS Fin. Sec Zone F, Comr. Asiegbu Kingsley (NAPS President),

Comr Innocent (Sec Gen, NAPS),

Comr. Atiku (Stakeholder NANS)

NANS JCC Anambra Axis Chairman, 

Comr. Okorie Santos (Aluta Wowosky), among others.