Police Disrupts ASUP, COEASU Protest in Abuja

The police yesterday used teargas and water to disrupt a peaceful protest by members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) who were calling on government to meet their demands in order to end their 10-month strike.

 

The unions had convened at car park of the Federal Secretariat at 9am and marched to the Ministry of Education, carrying placards with various inscriptions, some calling for the sack of the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike. Security operatives, especially the police, barricaded the entrance to the ministry to prevent the protesters from entering.

 

ASUP President, Mr Chibuzor Asomugha said the union would push the government to resolve the lingering crisis. “If the government is sensitive and it means its transformation (agenda), then it should start transforming the Education sector,” Mr Asomugha said.

 

The protesters also marched to the Ministry of Labour and Productivity where the minister, Mr Emeka Wogu, assured that President Goodlucl Jonathan had intervened in their case. However, shortly after the minister’s address, police began to teargas the protesters, leading to pandemonium.