From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Civil Societies Organisations(CSOs) and students in Osun State, on Tuesday joined the protest of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) demanding opening of public universities in Nigeria.
The protesters trekked from Ogo-Oluwa area, Osogbo to the state House of Assembly where they presented a letter to the speaker, Hon Timothy Owoeye.
They also blocked the entrance of the government house, Abere, for some hours, preventing vehicular movement and chanting anti-government songs.
They carried placards of various inscription such as: “This Is The Mother of All Strikes, It’s Either We Win or We Win,” “Invest in Education to Overcome Security,” “Lecturers Are Not Slaves,” along others.
The Vice Chairman of the state NLC, Comrade Gbadebo Awotayo, who led the protest, told the legislators to intervene quickly with a view to ending the strike.
He charged them to enact a law that would prevent public officials from sending their children abroad to study.
He said, “government must stop political office holders and leaders in the country from taking their children out of the country to study. They should enact an act to stop them from sending their children outside the country, this will force them to prioritize education in Nigeria,” he added.
Responding, Owoeye assured the protesters that their grievances would be communicated to the federal government and necessary actions would be taken over it.