MAPOLY students protest late commencement of semester exams

Hundreds of students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY on Monday in Abeokuta blocked parts of the Abeokuta metropolis while protesting the stoppage of their semester examinations‎.

The protesters, adorned in black attire and carrying anti-government placards, were seen on major streets of the town marching towards the governor’s office at Oke-Mosan. Their leaders also had a letter of protest they wanted to submit to the governor.

Over the past few weeks, the state government and lecturers of the institution have been at loggerheads over the conversion of the polytechnic to university status and subsequent relocation of the polytechnic to Ipokia, a border town in the state.

The lecturers alleged that the state government did not follow due process. They resolved not to resume at the new school premises until the governor met the criteria set by the National Board of Technical Education for such a process.

However, the state has stood its ground on the matter.

The lecturers subsquently embarked on a strike that has crippled academic activities for over three months ago leading to the stalling of scheduled semester examinations in the school.

As at the time our correspondent filed in report, the protesters were being monitored by police and other security operatives.

Details later…