The Nigerian police today fired tear gas canisters at protesting polytechnic lecturers who are engaging in a peaceful protest to force the Nigerian government to have dialogue with the lecturers relating to their demands.
The lecturers and a few poly students gathered at the federal Secretariat in Abuja for ask for reopening of Nigerian polytechnics whose lecturers had embarked on a strike since last year.
The protesting Polytechnic lecturers first gathered at the Eagle Square early this morning to protest non implementation of the agreement made by the both Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) and the Federal Government and later marched down to the Ministry of Education where Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu addressed the protesters and promised that their grievances would be addressed. The minister then appealed for patience and understanding from the lecturers.
However, disatisfied with the promise the peaceful rally later headed toward the National Assembly complex where a protest letter was billed to be submitted to the both the Senate and House of Representatives leadership. Armed policemen fired tear gas canisters at the protesters and used hot water hoses to disperse the crowd.
The protesters vowed not to leave until they submit their protest letter to the leaders of National Assembly. The Polytechnic lecturers have been on strike since ten months without any sign from Government to meet their demands.
