Academic activities at the University of Jos were completely grounded on Monday as the institution joined the two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

When The Guardian visited the campus, lecture halls were empty and teaching activities had been suspended.

The university’s main gate was partially closed, restricting access, while students loitered around without direction. Academic staff were notably absent in compliance with the nationwide strike directive.

Confirming the development, the Chairman of ASUU, University of Jos branch, Professor Jurbe Joseph Molwus, said the union had fully complied with the national directive.

“We are fully on strike. There is no going back,” he stated.

The warning strike, declared last week, is intended to draw attention to the Federal Government’s failure to honour previous agreements with ASUU, inadequate funding of public universities, and unresolved welfare issues affecting lecturers nationwide.

With the participation of UniJos, academic activities have now halted in several federal and state universities, leaving students stranded and uncertain about the continuation of their academic programmes.

A final-year student, Joseph Maxwell, appealed to both sides to consider the plight of students, especially those about to defend their theses.

“ASUU has genuine reasons for the strike, but the Federal Government should show compassion and suspend the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy in the interest of humanity,” he said.

Another student, Timothy Owolabi, a 200-level undergraduate, expressed support for ASUU’s action, insisting that the union should not suspend the strike until its demands are met.

“The lecturers’ demands are legitimate, and the government should meet them. If not, ASUU should continue indefinitely because, in the end, it is the government that loses,” he added.