Students of the Imo State University (IMSU) on Friday, May 13, 2016 barricaded the main entrance of Government House, Owerri, to protest the continued strike by their lecturers.
The lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike in March following a 30 Per cent salary cut by the state government for its workers.
Over 2,000 students stormed the governors office to have audience with Governor Rochas Okorocha over their grievances.
The leader of the students, Mr Stanley Chukwuyere, said that said the lecturers’ strike had stalled academic activities. He said students preparing for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) could not complete their registration process and so would miss the opportunity to participate in the programme.
“We call on the governor to end the strike now because our future is at stake.
“The first year students are mostly affected by this situation because their colleagues in other institutions have started fully but our own first year students are yet to commence registration,“ he said.
Some of the placards displayed by the protesters read, “Okorocha end IMSU strike now; “ “We are frustrated at home since the strike;’’ “Our future is now tampered.”
The students refused the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Mr Kenneth Emulu, addressing them. They said they could only allow the governor or his Chief of Staff to address them.
The Police Mobile Force had to use tear-gas to disperse the protesting students.
