>
Additional reports, photos, by Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Activities in most universities in Nigerian have been shut down following the directive by Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) to their members to embark on a five-day warning strike.
In compliance with the directive, the striking workers in the University of Ibadan (UI) early in the morning blocked the gates of the institution while reports from Ilorin say the main gate of the University of Ilorin was closed as early as 7am causing a traffic gridlock on the road leading to the institution.
At Unilorin, only members of ASUU and NAAT were allowed entry. Principal officers of the University that are members of ASUU had to drive themselves in as their drivers and security personnel who are memebrs of NASU, and other members of SSANU, were not allowed in.
When Newspeakonline visited UI, the gates were not under lock and key but the striking workers blocked the institutions entrance with tables, mats and iron bars. Policemen were also seen around the areas just as the NASU and SSANU members also manned the gate ensuring that their obstruction remained.
Within the campus, staff and students were forced to trek to their various destinations as the school’s shuttle services were also shut down.
The unions, working under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), announced on Friday that they would embark on a five-day nationwide warning following the failure of the Federal Government to show committment towards meeting their demands after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum.
The leadership of the unions accused the government of failing to show firm commitment towards resolving the issues raised by the unions, including the payment of earned allowances to members.
Others are university staff schools matter and the renegotiation of 2009 Agreements.
The Chairman of the University of Ilorin NASU, Comrade Haruna Ibrahim, who addressed journalists outside the school’s gate, said the strike became necessary following the federal government’s failure to address their agitations over the N30billion earned allowances, University school matters and renagotiation of 2009 aggreements.
The demands
According to the JAC, the demands of te unions include:
- Payment of Earned Allowances
- University Staff Schools matter
- Renegotiation of 2009 Agreements
If nothng is done to appease the angry workers, the warning strike will run till Friday, August 23, 2019.