While the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) strike action continues, the administration of Kaduna State University (KASU) has scheduled the start of full academic activities for the 2020/2021 academic year on May 9.
In a circular dated April 26 and signed by the university’s academic secretary, Abdullahi Zubairu, the university directed all students and lecturers to resume academic activities.
Additionally, the circular advised all lecturers and students to adhere to the academic calendar.
The industrial action has extended into two months with the Federal Government yet to accede to the lecturers’ demands.
Worried about the situation, many Nigerian students have taken to social media to protest the closure.
Last week, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the decision to suspend the industrial action embarked upon by ASUU could only be taken by the union.
Ngige asked the union to meet with the Benimi Briggs Committee.
“It depends on ASUU. The ball is in their court. They should go and meet the Benimi Briggs Committee and look at what the committee is doing and make further inputs so that the work can be accelerated,” the minister said in response to when the strike would be called off.
Some of ASUU’s demands include the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the UTAS payment platform for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers.