BY GBENGA OLARINOYE
OSOGBO- Students of the four Osun State-owned tertiary institutions Wednesday for the second time in a week took to the streets of Osogbo, the state capital, to protest the continued closure of their institutions for over two months following industrial action by lecturers and other workers of the institutions.

The placard carrying students in their hundreds stormed Osogbo in about 10 buses around 10:00 am. They barricaded the major roads in the state capital and disrupted free flow of traffic at the Olaiya Junction of the state capital.

Academic and Non-academic staff of the four tertiary institutions embarked on strike following the breakdown of talks between them and the government over enhanced salary and improved conditions of service.

Specifically, the striking workers are among others, demanding for the payment of 7% peculiar academic allowance, new salary package of CONTISS 2007 and CONPOCASS 2009, retirement age for lecturers pegged at 65 years as approved by the Federal Government and NBTE and Staff welfare.

The affected institutions are: Osun State Politechnic, Iree, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa and the Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun.

The government however, said that it had resumed negotiation with the striking workers with the hope that they would return to work soon.

The Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said that government was on top of the situation, noting that a meeting held with leaders of the unions  last week was slated to continue this week, saying “governor Aregbesola is very personate about the quality of education in the state.”

“The negotiation is ongoing and positions being canvassed by the government are aimed at getting the best for the lecturers and students as the major beneficiaries therefore we appealed to them to allow negotiation to be concluded after which they will see the sincerity of this administration as far as the welfare of students and all staff of tertiary institution is concerned.”

Speaking on the protest, the Joint Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Students, Osun State, Abosede Seun said government had not done enough to persuade the lecturers to go back to work, saying “the students are tired of staying at home because they are at the receiving end of the crisis.”