Academic activities in several universities came to a halt during the week following the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The situation has left thousands of students preparing for examinations stranded, while local businesses around campuses are counting losses due to low patronage.
ASUU had on Monday declared a two-week warning strike to protest the Federal Government’s refusal to sign the renegotiated agreement reached with the Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee, led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, whose work was completed over eight months ago.
The University of Ibadan ASUU Chairman, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, explained that the union resorted to the strike following what he described as the government’s “delay tactics” and disregard for collective bargaining.
He said members had waited patiently for eight months and even held protests to draw public attention to the issue, only for the government to set up another committee to restart negotiations.
“This is a waste of time and resources, showing that the government is not serious about improving lecturers’ welfare and working conditions,” Afolabi stated.A visit by Sunday PUNCH revealed that most campuses across the country were deserted as lecturers stayed away from classrooms.
Local business operators such as food vendors, motorcyclists, hostel managers, and stationery sellers have been severely affected.At the University of Ibadan, a food vendor near the Students’ Union Building, Tunde Ajayi, said his daily sales had dropped drastically since the strike began.
“Once ASUU started the strike, students disappeared. Yesterday, I sold less than half of my usual stock. We only hope it doesn’t last long,” he said.
Similarly, Bose Ogunleye, who runs a convenience store in the Agbowo area, described the situation as devastating. “Sales have fallen sharply. The campus is empty, and many shop owners have locked up and travelled,” she said.
During a visit to the campus on Thursday, Sunday PUNCH observed deserted lecture halls and quiet surroundings. Some students were seen packing their belongings, while many shops around the university were closed or barely operating.
Opeyemi, a 300-level education student, said the strike had once again disrupted the academic calendar. “We just resumed after the last break, and now another strike. It’s frustrating because we don’t know when it will end,” she lamented.Aminat, a final-year student in the Faculty of Arts, also expressed concern that the industrial action could delay her graduation.
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