ACADEMIC activities were paralysed at various universities in the country on Monday, following the commencement of the one-week strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).Our correspondents who monitored the situation observed that all the lecturers obeyed the union's directive to stay away from classrooms or any official duty during the strike expected to last one week.At the University of Lagos, students were seen roaming the campus, especially the new intakes who had been busy with registration in the last one week, while various lecture theatres were empty.Some of the students, however, used the opportunity to unwind as they gathered at various relaxation points to gossip and eat.A visit to the halls of residence showed that some of the students had travelled as they looked vacant with a few motion photographers being idle.At the Lagos State University, the situation was not different but with very low commercial activities, perhaps because the university is non-residential.Speaking to Nigerian Tribune, a student of the University of Lagos, who identified herself as Yemisi Daramola, lamented the situation, describing the situation as worrisome.Daramola said: 'I had the belief that the strike would not go on. I thought the Federal Government would resolve the matter with ASUU before now but I'm surprised that nothing was done.'According to her, the action of ASUU is not bad, considering the level of decay in Nigerian universities today and the wages of the lecturers, compared to what most political office holders take home.In her view, ASUU has taken the action to help every Nigerian parent and child who does not have money to enrol in private university or foreign institution.'I see it as our fight but because student unionism has been politicised across the country, we have lost our power to protest this bad quality education the government is providing,' she said.According to another student, Christian Okorie, government should resolve the incessant strike by labour unions in the country now.He said: 'We at the University of Lagos do not have much problem when it comes to quality lecturers or facilities but there are many universities in this country that can only be described as glorified secondary schools. Our government are not helping the situation.'ASUU is asking the Federal Government to respect the terms of reference as contained in the agreement reached and signed by the union and government on funding of universities, basic salary, university autonomy and academic freedom and other matters in 2009.Meanwhile, the two state-owned universities, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) and the Rivers State University of Education (RSUOE), were in the middle of their examinations, while the University of Port Harcourt had scheduled to start its own next week.In a chat with the Nigerian Tribune, the UNIPORT branch chairman of the ASUU, Dr Kinikanwo Anele, said the strike was meant to push the Federal Government to take action.Felix Igwe, ASUU chairman in RSUST, said the union in both state universities were planning on another industrial action, following the state government's failure to implement an aspect of the agreement,In another development, the strike also took its toll on the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, as academic activities at the institution were paralysed.It was discovered during a visit to the institution by the Nigerian Tribune that most offices were under lock and key, while most of the students deserted the campus, while the few on hand were seen in groups lamenting the development.Speaking with newsmen at ASUU secretariat in the university, the chairman of ATBU chapter of ASUU, Dr Lawan Abubakar, said members complied in totality with ASUU directive on the strike, adding that the strike was succeessful in the university.The story was the same in University of Abuja, which the Nigerian Tribune visited on Monday. Most offices of the lecturers were under lock and key, while only a few who had things to do in their offices in terms of research closed their doors to visitors.However, most of the students interviewed expressed divergent views about the warning strike.The ASUU chairman of University of Abuja, Clement Chup, told the Nigerian Tribune that the first day of the strike recorded 100 per cent compliance.Also, it was the same story at the University of Ibadan, as the school authorities were forced to postpone the ongoing second semester examinations, as the authorities were forced to reschedule the examinations for October 4.When the Nigerian Tribune visited the institution on Monday, all academic activities in about seven faculties were paralysed, as none of the examinations originally slated for today took place as scheduled.Reacting to the strike, Dr Ademola Aremu, ASUU chairman at the institution, said the strike was a hundred per cent effective, saying that all examinations had been cancelled and rescheduled till the end of the strike.Also, chairman of ASUU at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Dr Celestine Aguoru, led his executive members to ensure the compliance of the directive of the ASUU national headquarters on the strike.Speaking with newsmen at the entrance of the campus, he said the executive members decided to embark on picketing, with a view to ensuring strict compliance with the directive.Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday, condemned the interpretation of the National Minimum Wage Act by the 19 northern governors and their intention not to implement it across board, warning that the governors were inviting anarchy.NLC also warned in a statement that it would resist such a move, as it was against the law of the country and the agreement earlier signed with labour by the Governors Forum, in which all the 36 states governors, including the northern governors, were fully represented.'The governors should realise that the trampling on the country's constitution, which is the National Minimum Wage Act and the refusal to obey an agreement it entered into in writing is not only the height of irresponsibility, but an invitation to anarchy,' NLC Head of Information and Public Relations, Chris Uyot, said on Monday.He said the attempt to regionalise the payment of the minimum wage by allegedly shortchanging workers in the northern states was an illegal and criminal act that should be strongly condemned.'We call on state councils of the labour movement not to accept this ploy by the northern governors to balkanise the nation by imposing a different and less favourable minimum wage on workers. The National Minimum Wage Act is a national law that must be respected by employers and governments at all levels,' he said.
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