ATAP alumni condemn student’s violent protest, destruction of properties calls for investigation 

The Alumni Association of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi has expressed concern over the uncoordinated protest staged by the students of the institution which caused serious destruction to properties within and outside the school premises.

The Alumni in a press statement made available to Newsmen and read by Abdulhamid Yusuf Gital said it learned the protest was in response to the planned strike by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Institution.

“We came to an understanding that the protest happened in response to the imposed decision of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to embark on a warning strike, an action which came close to the commencement of the second-semester examination”.

It declared that, undoubtedly, the action must be condemned sincerely in strong terms because, the manner in which the adamant protesters comported themselves was out of the boundaries of learned and responsible people.

“We know well how students express their grievances in the face of any academic difficulties in Nigerian institutions of learning, you will believe that this isn’t the first strike in ATapoly but there is none in the record of such unholy conduct of the students, why is this barbaric act taking the normal attitude of students now”, the Alumni added

It added that “The manifest of hoodlums displayed in the protest has posed serious questions about the genuinty of the identities of the so-called students, for that, we call on the management to initiate a high stake investigation panel to ascertain the genuinty of the students involved in the protest and know their justification for the protest”.

“Nevertheless, in our conscious effort, we have great concern, loyal and law-abiding students who of course fell victims of the school management circumstances, therefore, we urge the state Government to do the needful as a responsible Government whose priority to education development is unmatched and uncontested judging the commitment budget allocated to the sector”, the Alumni says.

It added that “More reason for her unwavering commitment to education could be seen in a circular sent and made available to the media by the Commissioner of Education which called for the immediate submission of necessary documents to the effect of the implementation of the tertiary institution’s teachers promotion”.

According to the Alumni, “The step taken in that direction was commendable. So the Government should hasten the process to implement the new salary scale for the promoted lecturers and non-academic staff of all state tertiary institutions.

”Finally, we must commend the calmness and resilience of the Rector in handling the trending situation in recent times”, it concluded.