Following the death of the former ASUU president, Prof. Festus Iyayi, in an auto accident involving the convoy of Kogi State governor Captain Idris Wada, the union yesterday called for a ban on the use of sirens by government officials on Nigeria's highways.

The union also urged government at all levels to declare state of emergency "to tackle the death traps that we call roads in this country.

A onetime chairman of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) branch of ASUU, Dr Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, made the call in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, while opening a condolence register.

The condolence register which was opened at the Kwara State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat and at the office of the acting secretary of the union, Dr Kayode Afolayan, is for ease of accessibility to the public to register their condolences for the late former ASUU president, Prof Iyayi.

 "The union also calls on government to see the tragic incident as a wake-up call on the issue of convoys, sirens and the parlous state of our roads. The convoys of governors are not meant to terrorise the governed whose taxes are used to buy the cars, pay the drivers and ensure their maintenance. Convoys should not convey or deliver death to the masses.

 "We join our voices to that of the Lagos State governor who has constantly clamoured for a stop to the use of sirens to terrorise citizens. We call for a declaration of emergency to tackle the death traps that we call roads in this country. The carnage must stop, he said."