By Uche Amunike
As part of the recent extension of the Nigerian Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike by an extra eight weeks, the prestigious pioneer University of Ibadan has being ordered by the management to shut down indefinitely.
This was announced through a special bulletin released by the university’s management, through the Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi, which stated that the current strike has crippled academic activities in the institution.
The bulletin was titled ‘Notice to Students’ and it reads:
‘Management, at its meeting on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, deliberated on the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which had now been extended by eight weeks’.
‘As a result, academic activities in the university have become paralyzed’.
‘Consequently, the Vice Chancellor, on behalf of Senate, has directed that the university be closed until further notice.’
Every student was asked to vacate the halls of residence with immediate effect. The only students who were exempted from the vacation notice are postgraduate students who have paid their school fees and undergraduate students who are on industrial training. They were mandated to visit the office of the Dean of Student Affairs for an arrangement for their accommodation.
While the management wished the students safe journey to their various homes, they stated that the new date of resumption would be communicated to them in due course.
On their part, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), also implored students not to use the ongoing Nigeria ASUU strike as an excuse to be involved in any vices.
In an interview with newsmen yesterday in Lagos, the Deputy National President of NAPTAN, Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo advised the students to place better value to their lives with the opportunity of the Nigerian ASUU strike, adding that the idle mind being a devil’s workshop will not be a defense for any student who was caught engaged in crime during the strike.
Hear him: ‘It is quite unfortunate that both the government and ASUU could not come to terms with the agreement on the current issue. Rather than students being in school learning to observe normal academic calendar, they are at home. It’s a big problem’.
‘However, it should not be a criterion for them to indulge in vices, thinking that cybercrime is the next thing to do, or join cult groups, which are totally unacceptable in our society’.
‘There is no justification for acts like that. Some wise ones have started looking for part-time jobs here and there, just to get themselves meaningfully engaged, pending when the two sides will find final resolutions, he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian ASUU strike has already started to take a toll on different segments of society in various states that are affected, especially those that host tertiary institutions which makes the large market for foodstuff and groceries lucrative as most of the customers are students.
For people in this category, the inability of the Federal government to meet up with the demands that will put an end to the Nigerian ASUU strike, has put them on the receiving end.
