Metro UNIJOS Lecturers Embarks on Controversial Leave

kemi

Social Member
The University of Jos is partially paralyzed following a decision by all lecturers to proceed on an unprecedented protest leave, but the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has not said officially it is on strike.

unijos.jpg

The controversial leave commenced barely a month after the lecturers suspended a prolonged strike they embarked upon in continuation of years of struggle to get paid for Earned Academic Allowance.

The leave has clocked its third straight week, haven commenced on May 3rd, and is expected to last 42 days, according to some lecturers who spoke to Daily Trust. They will resume duty on June 27, three days after a new Vice Chancellor; Professor Sebastian Seddi Maimako would have resumed office after taking over from the current VC, Professor Hayward Mafuyai.

It has been difficult to know the reasons for the unprecedented action of the lecturers especially when their union hasn't said anything since then. But Daily Trust inquiries showed that it may not be unconnected with the frosty relationship between them and the outgoing VC, whose tenure is expected to end on June 23.

Local ASUU chairman, Dr. Christopher Piwuna in a terse statement on sms, said: “Just like every public servant, ASUU members have the right to proceed on leave. The most appropriate time for lecturers to be on leave is at the end of a session, and a session just ended.”

He also said: “The process of getting permission for strike in ASUU is not as simple as the public perceives it. It is deliberately cumbersome to discourage branches from embarking on strike. We are not on strike.”

In a reaction, the university management confirmed that lecturers have stayed away from duty, but added that they (lecturers) did so without clear and understandable communication with the management.
 
Back
Top