The Protesters
| credits: Goke Famadewa
| credits: Goke Famadewa
Activists protest negligence of education
Caskets-carrying
activists on Tuesday converged on Lagos to protest what they described
as the poor standard of educational system in Nigeria.
The activists explained that the protest
was informed by the “lackadaisical attitude” which some states and the
Federal governments had towards the issue of education in the country.
While chanting abusive songs at the two
prominent political parties in the country-All Progressive Congress and
Peoples Democratic Party- the activists said the country present leaders
had failed to represent the interest of the citizens.
National Coordinator, Concerned Human
Right Nigeria, Mr. Declan Iheraire, who spoke on behalf of the
activists, lamented that public funds were not adequately utilised for
their purposes.
He said, “We are gathered to showcase
two caskets depicting the wickedness of those against the masses. One
casket is for PDP while the second is Action Congress of Nigeria, now
All Progressives Congress. You need not to wonder, but be rest assured
that these political parties have ways of affecting us positively or
negatively.
“We looked at the negative impact of
these two parties in recent times and make our demand as it affects our
public education. The Lagos State Government representing APC increased
its university’s fees astronomically from N25, 000 to about N350, 000
against the wishes of the people.
“On the PDP-led Federal Government, the
current administration is aiming at total extinction of public
education in Nigeria. What is difficult in honouring a common agreement
duly reached and signed with Academic Staff Union of Universities to
better the public tertiary education in Nigeria?”
The activists, subsequently, issued a
seven day ultimatum to both the Lagos State Government and the Federal
Government to reverse the Lagos State University school fee and release
the funds needed by ASUU respectively.
They also threatened to “bury” the two
parties by preventing them from winning elections if the educational
system was not improved.
Iheraire added, “We call on stakeholders
in the APC to heed our request. At the expiration of seven days, if
there is no reduction, we shall start preparation to bury APC for good
as we have secured a grave for its final burial.
“We have also bought a casket for the
PDP, secured a grave and only waiting to bury it after seven days.
Enough is enough to the poor handling of public education sector by both
PDP and APC.”
September 11, 2013 by Sodiq Oyeleke
http://www.punchng.com/metro/activists-protest-negligence-of-education/
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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