Academic Activities Grounded at UniUyo

The one-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has crippled academic activities at the University of Uyo (UniUyo), Akwa Ibom. Lecturers have deserted lecture rooms at the Uyo campus, its annex and the main campus of the university on Wednesday. Only students were seen in clusters discussing the disruption of the academic activities due to the strike. Speaking to newsmen, the Branch Chairman of ASUU, UniUyo, Dr. Aniekan Brown, said that the union at a meeting held on Tuesday declared a one-week warning strike with effect from Wednesday, Nov. 16. Brown added that the declaration of the strike by the branch was in line with the National Executive Council (NEC) directive. He said members of the branch had expressed their disappointment at the Federal Government attitude of paying them fractional salaries. “The strike is total and comprehensive, no teaching, no examination and no attendance at statutory meetings of any kind (Senate, Council, College/Faculty/Departmental Boards. “Members are advised to obtain information in connection with the strike only from the Chairman,” Brown said. He explained that the warning strike was to cause the federal government to address the shortfall in salaries leading to the payment of fractions of staff salaries. Besides, he said that the union during the warning strike would expect the government to re-negotiate the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement in line with the November 2013 FGN-ASUU Memorandum of Understanding. The chairman added that the warning strike was also to appeal to the respective visitors of state universities to release their subventions. He said that the union was also demanding for the registration of the Nigerian University Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO). Brown also called on the Federal Government to effect the payment of salaries of staff in the staff primary schools. He said that the union would work to ensure that members comply fully with the ongoing warning strike.