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… As ASUU strike brings agony to students
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia, Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri, Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa and Abel Leonard, Lafia
Students from some state universities in Nigeria are currently facing intense anguish following the industrial action declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in their institutions.
Although it was gathered that ASUU did not declare an immediate nationwide strike, it issued a 14-day ultimatum to the federal and state governments. It also granted 20 state university branches the green light to prepare for an indefinite strike over the poor implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
The institutions include Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu; and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.
The rest are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University, Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.
Some of the 20 universities have since gone on strike, grounding academic activities in their respective institutions. Some others have not commenced any strike.
Among those on strike are Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Imo State University; Abia State University, Uturu; Niger Delta University; and Bayelsa Medical University,
Our reporters observed that the strike has left the students totally frustrated and in anguish. Some of them were busy in examination halls when ASUU officials stormed the halls and ordered the immediate stoppage of the examinations.
Paul Ebisentei is a 200-level student of Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State.
He was quite emotional when he spoke with Saturday Sun on the effects of the strike.
His words: “The strike is coming at the wrong time. And it is very painful because it was avoidable.
“We have enjoyed uninterrupted academic activities before this latest industrial action. In fairness, ASUU has really tried to hold on this time. I want to appeal to the state government to listen to the demands of ASUU and negotiate with them. The government may not be able to meet all the demands, but it can at least meet some and set a timeline to meet the other demands.
“It is students who suffer from this industrial action. Most of those in government do not have their children in NDU but in private universities. After the declaration of the strike, I had to go and look at the demands of ASUU, and I think the state government should not have problems in meeting some of those demands. If the government is actually serious about education in the state, then some of the things ASUU is demanding can be tackled.
“So ASUU and the state government should have mercy on indigent students in NDU and their poor parents by returning to the dialogue table.”
Blessing Omafor is a 100-level student at Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa, where lecturers have also downed tools.
Said she: “This is my first year, and I am really sad that we are starting with the ASUU strike. One of the things that attracted me to come to study in Bayelsa State is the relative peace in the state universities. The impression my parents and I had was that the state-owned universities, especially BMU, are better run. We have heard nice things about the support the state government was giving to its tertiary institutions. I am therefore surprised to hear that ASUU BMU is going on strike because the state government has failed to implement an agreement.
“My appeal to both parties is that they should think of the students who are bearing the cost of this strike and sort out any issues. For the sake of students, the state government and ASUU should resolve this matter as soon as possible.
In Abia, students of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), are lamenting the current strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the state-owned universities.
ASUU-ABSU branch had in a notice jointly signed by her chairperson, Dr. Chidi S. Mba, and Secretary, Dr. Victor U. Obisike, declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike effective Tuesday, August 11.
The branch leadership also directed members to suspend participation in all statutory meetings, including Senate meetings, Faculty Boards, and other official meetings of the university.
The strike which has disrupted academic activities at the university, is affecting the students who have just began their second semester academic programme.
Lamenting the impact of the strike, Ejike, a student in the Faculty of Engineering regretted that if the dispute that led to the strike was not resolved as quickly as possible and lecturers return to classes, students would be made to stay on campus much more time than required.
He said students were supposed to have taken their second semester exams and vacated campus since July, but that due to circumstances beyond their control, they were just starting second semester and that the strike was going to compound issues for them.
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“Institution like Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), finished their second semester exams since June/July, and vacated, giving final year students enough time to prepare for the NYSC programme.
“But here at ABSU, we’ve just started the second semester and have not even gone halfway before the strike began. If the dispute is not timely resolved and the strike called off, that means we might be in school till the end of the year still talking about the second semester and the final year students may miss this year’s NYSC programme.”
He called on the authorities to dialogue with ASUU to iron out whatever problem that caused the industrial action as to enable lecturers return to classrooms.
Another student, Okoro, of the Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences was equally lamenting the effect of the current ASUU strike on academic activities in the institution.
Okoro, recalling the last ASUU strike that lasted for almost one year and disrupted academic activities for one academic session, said this shouldn’t be allowed to run the same circle.
Like Ejike, Okoro said ABSU was already running behind schedule of the academic calendar and that the strike was going to worsen the issue.
He lamented that students of the University were supposed to have finished their second semester exams and vacated before now, stressing that with the strike, nobody was sure when the second semester will come to an end.
“We are already racing behind time. Some universities like MOUAU have finished their second semester exams and vacated campus since two my months ago and we in ABSU have just begun the second semester.
“If this strike persists, when will final year students take their final exams and prepare for the NYSC programme?”
The student called for an amicable resolution of the dispute to enable lecturers return to lecture halls and save students the ordeal of the disruption in academic calendar.
In Imo State, the President of the Students Union, Imo State University (IMSU), Ijezie Brendan, has assured students that efforts are underway to ensure faculties currently unable to participate in the ongoing examinations are included.
He said the Students Union has been engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve issues preventing some departments from sitting for the second semester exams.
Brendan called on affected students to remain calm while the SUG continues consultations aimed at a swift resolution.
State chairman of IMSU ASUU, Stephen Oguji told the reporter that universities in the state, including the Imo State University, were on strike. But he said some departments were having their second semester exams despite the strike.
“Yes I can confirm to you that the students here are observing the strike and it’s true they’re writing their exams. How they’re writing their exams while their lecturers are on strike is a question for the management,” Oguji said.
Oluchukwu Iwu , a 300-level Law student also confirmed that examinations were ongoing in the school in spite of the lecturers’ strike.
“We’re on strike but we’re still writing our exams. At least, I know of my own faculty and I guess it might be the same with others. I’m due to finish my exams next week,” she said.
Students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), have expressed frustration and disappointment over the ongoing strike, saying the industrial action has disrupted their academic activities.
A 300-level student of Political Science, Miss Cathy Anzaku, who spoke with the reporter, said the strike was particularly painful as students were preparing for examinations.
“We are frustrated and disappointed. We were supposed to write our exams before the strike, and this has affected our studies,” she said.
Another student, Godwin Samuel, a 200-level Business Administration student, recalled that a similar situation occurred last year when students were preparing for examinations.
Samuel appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to intervene by ensuring that the outstanding obligations to the university’s workers were immediately addressed, allowing students to return to class and write their examinations.
He said all the students wanted was to complete their academic programmes and progress to the next stage of their education.
