Strike: Non-academic unions to cut-off water, power supply in UNN
Barely a week after returning for academic activities, the students of University of Nigeria Nsukka have been advised to go back home.
This is because the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of trade unions of the University who gave the advised have threatened to shut down power, water supply beginning from Wednesday to the campus as well as close down all offices and classrooms until Federal Government resolves the impasse with them.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) which formed JAC made the threat on Tuesday while saying it will continue on the nationwide strike.
Daily Times recall that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) commenced an indefinite strike last December.
The chairman of JAC in UNN, Mr. Paul Arua told Daily Times that, “They will continue to frustrate every activity until Federal Government meets their demand.
“I am leading the enforcement team to ensure that no non-academic staffs enter any office to work in UNN.
“My team will ensure that electricity and water supply to UNN are paralyzed,” he said.
Erua advised students that have returned to go back home stressing that non-academic staff are currently on nationwide strike.
“We will not open or allow offices and classrooms to open for work or lecture, there will be no lecture and by tomorrow we will cut off electricity and water supply in the university,” he said
“My candid advice for the students is to go back home and wait till they hear from credible source that non-academic staff has suspended its strike,” he said.
When contacted the chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in UNN, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Abada said his members are ready to teach as ASUU was not on strike.
“Students are welcome back to campus and should prepare to receive lecture because lecturers will be coming to class to teach, ” he said.
In swift reaction to the threat of non-academic staff of the university to shut-down electricity and water supply , the Vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, said what it means is that leaders of non-academic staff in UNN have a hidden agenda.
“I know non-academic staffs of universities are on nationwide strike, I have not heard any university where the union shut-down electricity and water supply in campus
“Unless leaders of non-academic staff in UNN have another hidden agenda and wants to hide under the ongoing nationwide strike of Non-academic staff to execute it,” he said.
“The strike has nothing to do with the shutting down of electricity and water supply,” he said.
Moses Oyediran, Enugu
