Published 18th Mar, 2024

By Opeyemi Lawal

Academic activities have been halted at the University of Calabar over the strike action embarked upon by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Monday.

A student of the institution, who asked not to be named, told FIJ that the unions had prevented both students and staff from accessing the university premises through the main entrance, grounding academic activities.

She further stated that, along with preventing entry, the unions staged a protest within the school premises.

“The main gate leading to the university was locked this morning due to the strike action by NASU. Many students had exams and had to use alternative gates leading into the school,” the undergraduate told FIJ.

“A lot of them got to their exam halls late, as they had trouble entering the school premises.”

The source said the main gate was opened around noon and students were allowed into the school but vehicular movement was restricted.

She added that her department was not open and students could not access the non-academic staff. “Almost all the faculty offices were locked, as students could almost do nothing in the school,” she said.

The general office of one of the school’s departments is under lock.

SSANU and NASU declared on Monday that they were shunning work for seven days over the federal government’s failure to pay their salary arrears.

Muhammed Ibrahim, the National President of SSANU, stated that members of the union, who include vicechancellors, registrars, and bursars, have not been paid arrears since 2022.

The unions’ strike action is set to cripple non-academic activities of federal universities across the country.

Share on Social Media