STUDENTS ARE DYING, RENTS ARE WASTING-NDU SUG TELLS GOVT., CALLS FOR CONGRESS.

- We are dying, rents are wasting, students laments.

- NDU strike is a threat to National security, says SUG

YENAGOA: Following last week's emergency meeting held by the academic staff union of universities (ASUU) were it agreed for the payment of two(2) months salary arrears to its members for it to call off its strike , the student union caretaker committee in Niger Delta University led by comrade Iboteme Mathias has therefore called on the Bayelsa state government to consider ASUU's proposal and shift ground so the strike will be called off.

Speaking with our correspondent in Yenagoa the Bayelsa state capital, comrade Iboteme Mathias beseech the state government to shift grounds for the overall interest of the students as they are the ones bearing the pains of the industrial action embarked upon by ASUU.

The student union leader revealed that the strike has led to a lot of unfortunate incidents like the painful death of Obele Wilson a final year student of the university who was shot by criminals in Yenagoa some weeks ago, aside Obele Wilson other students have lost their lives one way or the other due to the lingering strike, according to him reports reaching him also indicates that some female students of the institution have taken into prostitution and their male counterparts indulging in criminal activities as well. He also lamented how house rents of students in Amassoma have been counting as some of the houses are even expired and students will not be able to pay again due to the nation's economic recession.

Iboteme therefore pleaded with the state government to hear the cries of students and agree to ASUU'S demand of two (2) months salaries. "The peril of Bayelsa state students  has continued to damage the lives of students with promising  future. I like to describe it as a cancerous treat to Bayelsa state and the Nation at large, our university is situated in the Niger Delta region, a place considered to be very hostile, since it's establishment, it has helped to reduce militancy, but since the strike, no doubt, we have witnessed the resurrection of militancy, pipeline vandalism and kidnapping. Some of this students caught up by the strike may have engaged in militancy and other vices to keep themselves busy, which is now constituting to national insecurity. The Niger Delta Avengers posing threat to the nations peace and economy may also have been heightened by some venerable students who may have added numerically to the group due to frustration" he added.

Finally, he called on all students of Niger Delta University to an emergency congress slated to hold at college of health sciences (CHS) auditorium, Amassoma on Friday 19th of August 2016 by 12pm, busses will be available at Tombia junction by 7-10am. He said it is imperative for the students to convene so as to discuss a way forward for the union as it is long overdue and also to help government and ASUU reach a common agreement so the strike will be called off in the overall  interest of the students.