By 
As a result of the incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), over alleged failure by the Nigeria’s federal government to implement the renegotiated 2009 agreement it had with the government, hundreds of students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), on Wednesday staged a massive protest in Benin, the Edo State capital.
The protesting students who stormed the streets, barricaded the busy Benin-Ore expressway, were armed with placards bearing inscriptions like “Education is our right; 5 years course has turned to 7 years; FG settle ASUU; Enough is Enough.”
The situation resulted in traffic gridlock for several hours, forcing many motorists to seek alternative routes to their respective destinations.
Some of the students who expressed their frustration over the incessant strikes by ASUU, appealed to the federal government to fulfill their agreements.
President of the Students Union Government (SUG) in UNIBEN, Foster Amadin, who led the protesters, said that the students were on the streets because they were tired of perennial strikes by ASUU.
“We came to the street to say we are tired. We hereby express our grievances to the federal government, to the state government and whoever cares to listen. We say we are tired.
“We want to graduate. For a programme that is supposed to run for four years, we are spending five years and even more. We don’t want it anymore.”
Amadin said all they want is to return to classes and graduate from the institution.
“Let the federal government see to the demands of ASUU and let ASUU also consider the federal government’s position.
“All we want is to go back to our classes. I want to graduate, I want to leave the school. I am tired and that is our grievance,” he said.
Recall that ASUU declared a warning strike on Monday, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos.
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