Universities shut as FG enforces no-work-no-pay on lecturers
On Monday, Universities across Nigeria fully complied with the strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), halting academic activities.
As a result, the federal government directed vice-chancellors of all federal universities to strictly implement the ‘no-work-no-pay’ policy against members of ASUU.
BusinessDay found that nearly all federal universities in Nigeria were closed on Monday, while students were seen loitering on various campuses.
Idou Keinde, ASUU branch chairman at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), told BusinessDay in a telephone chat that the university was fully compliant with the directive of the union’s national president.
“Who will not comply with the directives from the national office? We don’t have such in our union; everyone is complying,” he said.
At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, academic activities were halted.
Ifeanyi Abada, an ASUU chieftain at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said the institution has commenced enforcing the strike as directed by the national leadership of the union.
“We are in the midst of examinations, but ASUU has started enforcing it, halting the examinations,” he said.
In Otuoke, academic activities did not go on. Stanley Boroh, a senior lecturer at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, explained that in line with ASUU policy, all branches were expected to declare a strike, which the university had done.
“We’ve embarked on a comprehensive and total strike, and all academic activities are suspended,” he noted.
Read also: ‘We’re ready for no-work-no-pay, government betrayed our trust’ – ASUU
Amaka Nwachukwu, a student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), confirmed the strike at the institution when she said, “We went to school today, and they drove us back because ASUU is on strike,” she said.
Similarly, at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Emmanuella Adeyemo, a student, confirmed that the university complied with the directives of ASUU national leaders, leaving students stranded on campus without lectures.
Recall that on Sunday, October 12, ASUU had announced a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike affecting all public universities across Nigeria.
Chris Piwuna, the national president of ASUU, stated that there had been no meaningful progress to prevent the union from moving forward with its planned industrial action.
Piwuna emphasised that the 14-day notice, issued on September 28, had passed without any substantial response from the relevant authorities.
He directed all ASUU branches across the country to commence a full withdrawal of their services beginning at midnight on Monday, October 13.
Mixed realities
Princess Ofia, a student of Nasarawa State University, confirmed that exams were currently ongoing at her school. Conversely, Jemima Samuel from Benue State University said her university was on strike, with students vacating hostels.
However, a student of the University of Abuja, identified as Chidi, said: “Non-academic staff are on campus, but no lectures are actively going on,” he added.
For Aldrich Akpomon, another University of Abuja student, the ongoing uncertainty is emotionally tasking. “I just want to graduate. I can’t stay at home doing nothing again. We’ve had enough delays,” he said.
UniJos campus deserted
The University of Jos, on Monday, also joined the two-week warning strike.
When BusinessDay visited the university, lecture halls were empty, and there were no signs of activity.
The university’s main gate was partially closed, indicating limited access, while students loitered around without direction. Notably, academic staff were absent from campus, in line with the nationwide strike directive issued by ASUU’s national leadership.
Jurbe Joseph Molwus, a professor and chairman of the ASUU UniJos chapter, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with BusinessDay. He said the branch had fully complied with the national directive, and there would be no reversal until further notice. “We are fully on strike. There is no going back,” he stated.
Shutdown at FULafia
No academic activities took place at the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) on Monday.
Sunday Orinya, chairman of ASUU FULafia, confirmed the development in an interview, stating that the decision to join the strike was unanimously adopted during a congress meeting held on Monday.
According to him, the union formally notified the university management of its decision and was monitoring the situation to ensure full adherence across departments.
“The strike is total. There will be no lectures, accreditation, or supervision of students’ theses. All academic activities, whether for part-time or regular students, are suspended for the duration of the two-week warning strike,” Orinya affirmed.
