The Academic Staff Union Universities’ chapters on Tuesday adopted different approaches on the four-week warning strike which the union declared on Monday.
Our correspondents who monitored lecturers’ compliance with the strike reported that while it had taken effect in some universities, others said they would hold congresses before commencing the industrial action.
ASUU, during a press conference at the University of Lagos, Akoka, declared four-week strike because of the Federal Government’s failure to honour the agreement it signed with the union.
In Katsina State, lecturers at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University and the Federal University, Dutsin-ma shunned work in compliance with ASUU’s directive.
Many students were seen loitering around on the campus, while those who volunteered information under the condition of anonymity, said they were awaiting their lecturers’ decision on the strike.
It was learnt that the national strike would commence on Wednesday at the institution after a congress by ASUU members there.
The ASUU chairman at FUDMA, Dutsin-ma, Dr. Ahmed Shagari, confirmed the development to The PUNCH on Tuesday.
The ASUU Chairman at Yar’Adua University, Dr Murtala Kwarah, disclosed that the union members would hold a special congress on Wednesday (tomorrow) to reaffirm their support for the strike.
ASUU strike: UNN complies
In Enugu, both campuses of the University of Nigeria Nsukka – Nsukka Main Campus and Enugu Campus on Tuesday commenced the strike.
One of our correspondents who monitored compliance with the strike at both campuses on Tuesday morning reported that students who came for lectures were seen loitering around the campuses while some others were seen going home.
BUK lecturers yet to comply with ASUU strike, as students remain on campus
But at the Bayero University, Kano, lectures were still being held while majority of the students remained on the campus on Tuesday.
Our correspondent who visited the permanent site of the university along Gwarzo Road on Tuesday reported that while some lecturers were still working, others had complied with the ASUU national headquarters on the strike.
UNIJOS ASUU summons congress, lecturers to stop work on Wednesday
The University of Jos chapter of ASUU will hold a congress on Wednesday.
It was learnt that the purpose of the meeting was to officially inform members of the decision of ASUU.
At the Naraguta permanent site of the university, normal academic activities were ongoing when The PUNCH visited on Tuesday.
The institution’s Chairman of ASUU, Dr Lazarus Maigoro, who confirmed the planned meeting, said members would stop work after their congress on Wednesday.
Also, lecturers in some universities in Ondo State had yet to commence the strike on Wednesday.
It was gathered that strike had yet to commence at the Federal University of Technology, Akure and the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.
But the industrial action has started at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa.
On the part of the FUTA branch, the chairman of its ASUU branch, Prof Adeyinka Awopetu, said the strike had not started in FUTA, saying congress had not been called.
He however said the congress would soon hold.
When our correspondent visited the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Yelwa Campus, Bauchi, academic activities were paralysed.
Some of the students were seen with their bags moving out of the campus. Some others, on the other, were still on campus.
The strike has grounded the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in Ogun State.
The lecturers, as directed by ASUU, stayed away from work rendering the classroom empty.
The Chairman of ASUU, FUNAAB chapter, Dr. Gbenga Adeleye, told one of our correspondents that compliance is 100 per cent.
The ASUU in the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State said it would commence the strike on Wednesday.
Chairman of the union in OOU, Joel Okewale, told one of our correspondents that the strike had not commenced in the university. The University of Ibadan conducted matriculation for its new students but lecturers shunned classes as the strike action began.
When contacted, the Chairman of ASUU, UI chapter, Prof. Ayoola Akinwole, said once the national body of the union declared a strike, all local chapters must comply.
The Chairman of ASUU, LAUTECH chapter, Dr Biodun Olaniran, told The PUNCH that the strike action recorded partial compliance at the university.
He said the Ibadan Zone of ASUU which comprises of UI, University of Ilorin and LAUTECH would hold congresses on Wednesday and strike monitoring committees would be put in place to ensure compliance.
Total compliance at UNILAG
The Chairman of the University of Lagos branch of ASUU, , Dr Dele Ashiru, said there was total compliance.
“We have been earning the same salary in the last 12 years and now we want to say enough is enough, we held a congress today, it was well attended and compliance started immediately. To the best of my knowledge, no department held a lecture,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in a telephone chat with The PUNCH, said he was already in talks with the Ministry of Education on the strike.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, through the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Goong, late Monday, however stated that his ministry had not received any official communication from ASUU.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Ngige said, “We have not received any communication from them (ASUU) officially. Before you can go on strike, we have to know and your employers, the Ministry of Education, should know.
“However, I am out of the country at the moment and would be back on Sunday. I am already in talks with the Minister of Education and other officials in my ministry.”
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