"We Deserve Our Rights" - Fedpoffa Students Vow Disruption Of Academic Activities

 

It has reached our Awareness that a wave of unrest swept through the Federal Polytechnic Offa in the early hours of Monday, as Part-Time (PT) students staged a protest over unresolved issues regarding the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization. The peaceful demonstration, which led to the suspension of the ongoing second-semester examinations, was fueled by students' frustration over the management's failure to resolve the long-standing matter.

According to BABS Media, this is the second time in recent months that PT students have taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction. The first protest occurred on August 26, 2024, when students voiced their concerns about their inability to participate in the NYSC program upon graduation. The school management, during that protest, had promised to address the issue within a short period, calming the agitated students at the time. However, nearly two months have passed with no concrete action taken, forcing the students to return to the streets to demand justice.

The protest started early Monday morning as hundreds of students gathered in front of the school premises, holding placards with inscriptions such as "PT Student Must Serve" and "We Deserve Our Right." The protest, initially peaceful, gained momentum as more students joined in, chanting slogans and expressing their grievances over the NYSC saga.

According to the students, the inability of the school management to ensure their NYSC mobilization after graduation puts their future at stake, as the mandatory one-year service is crucial for their professional advancement and eligibility for government jobs.

"We have been patient for months, believing the management would keep their promise, but it seems like they don't care about our future. We cannot sit for exams when our careers are on the line. We need immediate action," said a student leader who preferred to remain anonymous.

As the protest grew, the school management, led by the Director of Student Affairs and the Deputy Rector of Academics, attempted to negotiate with the students. In a bid to calm the situation, the officials addressed the gathering and assured them that the matter was being addressed at higher levels. They appealed to the students to suspend their protest and allow the examinations to continue.

However, the students were unwilling to accept verbal promises, citing the previous protest in August where similar promises were made but no action followed. The protesters insisted on concrete action before they would back down, refusing to be placated by the same promises that had failed them previously.

"We won't make the same mistake twice. In August, we believed them, but today, we need to see results, not words," a protesting student said.

Despite the efforts of the management team to persuade the students, the protest persisted, leading to the indefinite suspension of the second-semester examinations. The school environment remained tense as students vowed not to relent until the NYSC saga is resolved.

The protesting students have called on both the school management and relevant government agencies to urgently intervene in the matter. They warned that any further delays could lead to a more prolonged disruption of academic activities and a potential breakdown of law and order within the institution.

Speaking to our correspondent, some students expressed their willingness to continue the protest until their demands are met. "We will not allow our future to be jeopardized. We are ready to protest for as long as it takes until the school does what is right," one student said.

The school management, on the other hand, has yet to release an official statement regarding the situation. However, it is expected that they will continue to engage with the students to find a resolution to the crisis.

As of the time of this report, security personnel had been deployed to the school to maintain order and ensure that the protest remained peaceful.

Credit: BABS Media