OSOGBO— Students in the five state owned tertiary institutions in Osun State have appealed to members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and their Non Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, NASUP, counterparts, to call off their ongoing strike for their sake.

At a briefing on behalf of the students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, College of Technology, Esa-Oke, College of Osun State College of Education in Ilesa, College of Education Ila-Orangun and the College of Health Technology, Ilesa, spokesperson of the students, Ibraheem Tunde urged ASUP and NASUP pleaded with the striking workers to have piety on the students.

At the briefing attended by thousands of students from the five institutions who thronged the venue, Ibraheem who is also the Deputy Senate President of National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS, lamented that “the strike is not in the interest of the students.”

As we are calling on the state government to strive hard to ensure better package for workers in these five institutions, it is also imperative to plead with the workers in these institutions to be considerate in their demands as this industrial action is not in the interest of the students whose future is at stake.”

“Like the ancient saying, where two elephants fight, the grass will suffer. Apparently, the students are already suffering and if this is not addressed on time, the incessant strike action by the workers tends to jeopardize the future of the students and prevent us from actualizing our dream of being the leaders of tomorrow.

We are not oblivious of the financial constraint of the state government and we appreciate the efforts of the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola in resolving the industrial dispute. state owned institution including Osun State University and this is why we are pledging our full support for the administration to succeed.

It is our prayer that Governor Aregbesola will be able to deliver his promises to the people of the state and take Osun to greater heights.”