It is no longer news that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked its members across the 36 states of the federation, including FCT, Abuja to downtools, with effect from Monday, August 14, 2017.
According to ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi, the lecturers took the decision to declare the strike after deliberations at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja during the weekend.
The academic union anchored its reasons on outstanding issues with the Federal Government to include: payment of fractions/non-payment of salaries; non-payment of earned academic allowances, non-release of operational license of NUPEMCO; non-implementation of the provisions of the 2014 pension reform act with respect to retired professors and their salaries, removal of universities staff schools from funding by government and funds for the revitalization of public universities.
Meanwhile, checks by DAILY POST across Nigerian universities show that lecturers have abandoned classes in compliance with the directive.
A visit to the University of Lagos, Akoka showed that academic activities in the institution have been paralyzed.
Though, students have not been told to vacate the campus at the moment, lecturers have abandoned their classes at the peak of their exams.
Students were seen ambling aimlessly in the school premises.
Also, a trip to the Usman Danfodiyo Univetrsity, Sokoto showed that there is total compliance with the directive from ASUU.
Our reporter, who visited the institution, observed that the union had given the school authorities ultimatum to round up their exams on or before Wednesday when the strike would fully commence.
At the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, academic activities have also been put on hold.
Though, ASUU had not officially announced commencement of the strike but lecturers have since abandoned their classes.
A student, who spoke with our reporter, said they have been to classes without lecturers coming for days now.
Similarly, lecturers and students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State have also deserted classes since the industrial action was announced on Monday.
At the time of this report, the school premises have literally turned to a ghost town as students and lecturers have deserted the school.
At the Benue State University, Makurdi, the ongoing exams have been thwarted by the strike.
The school authorities have been asked to finish up the exams before Wednesday or continue at the end of the strike.
At Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, students have been asked to stay off school pending the outcome of the ongoing negotiations between ASUU and the Nigerian government.
A statement obtained by DAILY POST from office of The Director of Information, Student Union Government said the strike would commence fully by Wednesday.
Also, findings by this reporter have shown that the strike has paralyzed academic activities and the ongoing Master examinations in some faculties at the University of Ibadan on Monday.
DAILY POST gathered that students in the department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences who were scheduled to start their examinations were turned back due to the strike.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) Chapter, Chairman, Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi, explained that the executive members of the chapter will summon a congress on Wednesday to officially declare the strike in the university.
University of Calabar (Unical) has joined its counterpart in a nationwide strike action.
DAILY POST’s reporter, who visited the University on Monday observed that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) abandoned classes while students were seen roaming the streets in the University.
Sources hinted our correspondent that at the meeting of the Union’s congress held on Thursday, about 500 people who attended the congress and voted in support of a total strike and 22 voted for two weeks warning strike and nine against no strike.
However, the academic staff union of universities, ASUU, Ebonyi State University chapter seems to have shunned the nationwide strike declared by the body.
When our reporter visited the institution on Monday, students were seen receiving their lectures and offices were opened for businesses at the CAS campus and that of the Permanent site.
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