.UNIMAID NASU seeks public understanding
Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), University of Jos (UNIJOS), began their warning strike yesterday.
This was as University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) branch of NASU appealed for public understanding over its decision to embark on the industrial action.
As early as 9.00am, when The Guardian visited, all the lecture rooms were under lock and key. Stranded students were seen hanging around, saying they were supposed to have lectures and, some of them, examinations.
None of the members of SSANU and NASU could be seen on the campus. But one of the staff, who possibly forgot something in the school and came to pick it, gave his phone number, but did not pick his phone when called.
The UNIMAID appeal was made by the NASU Chairman, Musa Liman, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the impact of the strike in UNIMAID.
Liman said the nationwide strike followed its national body’s directives to protest the alleged unfair treatment of union members by the Federal Government.
The chairman, who said the action was also to save public universities from collapse, noted that the level of compliance in UNIMAID was impressive.
“I thank our members for the almost 100 per cent compliance and to urge them to remain calm, peaceful and wait for further directives.
“If you observe, places like senate building, bursary, works department, exams and records, fire service and many other places in the university are closed for the seven-day strike,” Liman said.
He explained that it was only the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the university that refused to join the strike on Wednesday.
