As universities reopen in the coming days for the resumption of academic and non-academic activities, many students who had been caught up in the ongoing political activities ahead of the 2023 general election will now refocus their attention and energies to school activities.
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that a majority of federal universities are set to resume academic activities after an eight-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which ended recently following a Supreme Court verdict upholding the judgements of two lower courts.
LEADERSHIP Weekend’s investigation also revealed that during the long months of strike, some students took the get married and would be returning to campuses as wives, while others took the opportunity to learn trades or engage in business activities.
Students in many of the universities have, however, started returning to the campuses, taking away their attention from the political discourse which had dominated social media ever since the 2023 election season kicked off.
Many of the students are also returning to changed circumstances, with those that were in their final years lamenting the extended stay and extra expenses.
For the students who are determined to stay on track in the campaign for their preferred presidential candidates, the suspension of the strike could not come at a more inconvenient time, with many worrying about the inability to vote on campus after registering at home.
Some of their comments on social media read, “Nigerian politics is not for the faint-hearted. ASUU strike called off, so a larger percentage of youths can get busy with school and exams. Nnamdi Kanu released so he can go and support Obi and tag the movement ‘Biafra’. And if he does not support, it’s a weakness for the movement.”
Another social media comment reads, “ASUU called off the strike and we are all happy. But we haven’t thought deep. Why call off the strike and agree to pay for the eight-month debt. Are you not seeing this as politics?
For a majority of students however, it is all excitement as they return to campus and turn all their attention to academic activities.
Our correspondent who went round Enugu observed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was all ready to resume academic activities, but that the management of the institution was still waiting for more students to come back
A 300-level student of UNN, Amara Ude, told LEADERSHIP Weekend about her experiences during the strike.
“The situation during the strike was devastating but I used the opportunity to learn skills that will help me in future. At least I can be self-employed when I come out of the university.”
Another student of UNN, Ogbonna Ukwuaba, who is studying mass Communication, said it was unfortunate that lost eight months in the academic calendar but that he was happy that the industrial action had been suspended.
UNILORIN Students To Resume October 24, December 15
Following the suspension of the prolonged strike by ASUU, the University of Ilorin has concluded arrangements for the resumption of academic activities on October 24, 2022.
This followed the ratification of the amended academic calendar by the university Senate at its 291st meeting on Friday.
According to the amended calendar, final year and postgraduate students are expected back on campus on Monday, 24th October, 2022, while other categories of returning students will resume on December 15th when the 2021/2022 academic session commences.
The university’s director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, who disclosed this to LEADERSHIP Weekend, added that students of the Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, who were yet to complete their semester examinations before the commencement of the strike on February 14, 2022, are expected to resume on October 24th to conclude such examinations.
LEADERSHIP Weekend observed that students of the institution are eager to return to school after a long holiday.
A student, AbdulRaheem Saka, of Islamic department said some of his colleagues, who are not resident in Ilorin, Kwara State, have been calling to find out when the school will resume academic activities.
Female Students Married Off In Bauchi
University students in Bauchi have lamented how the eight-month-old strike by ASUU has truncated their chances of graduation as originally planned.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend, a student of the Petroleum Engineering Department of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi (ATBU), Musa Gambo Hassan, said the strikes forced him to spend another two years in the university when he was supposed to have graduated.
He said because of the prolonged strike, most of them lost track of what they were taught in the first two months of the 2020/2021 academic session.
He said a great number of his female colleagues had got married as resumption from the strike was not in sight.
“My female colleagues married because most of them are in their early twenties and, by implication, their parents would not allow them to continue waiting to graduate before they marry. They might be late then and might not have the kind of suitors they aspired to have. This is especially so here in the northern part of the country,” he said.
Our Correspondent reports that while the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University approved 21st October for the reopening of the school portal to allow fresh students complete their registration, it is yet to announce a date for the resumption of academic activities.
“There is no official calendar detailing when lectures will commence but we hope to get that by Monday,” an ATBU staff who pleaded for anonymity said.
However, the management of Bauchi State University, Gadau, announced Monday, 24th October, as the resumption date for lectures and other academic and non-academic activities.
Students Gradually Returning In Osun
In Osun, the Obafeml Awolowo University Ile-Ife, the only affected citadel of learning, announced October 19 as the resumption date and October 20 as commencement of academic work through a release by the registrar, Mrs Margaret Omosule.
As of the time of filing this report, students had started trickling into the halls of residence on campus with harrowing stories to tell.
A 400-level Accounting student, Joshua Ololade Dada, lamented the expiration of his house rent.
According to him, without the strike, as a final year student, he wouldn’t have had to pay extra money for accommodation.
Also speaking, Kunle Agbesanya pleaded with the authorities concerned to guard against future occurrences, adding that the implication of the prolonged strike on the nation is beyond the present.
Ekiti Varsities Resume, Students Lament Strike
The two public universities in Ekiti State, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, and Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), have been reopened for academic and administrative activities.
The management of EKSU had, while the strike was on, directed that full academic activities should resume on campus with effect from Thursday, September 22, 2022.
The University took the decision so that both the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions would be completed without further delay.
The university management in a statement by the Head, Directorate of Information, Bode Olofinmuagun stated that “round-off lectures for the second semester of 2020/2021 academic session have been scheduled to hold between Thursday, 22nd September and Friday, 21st October 2022.
Unlike EKSU, the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, fresh and returning students were directed to immediately resume academic activities for the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 sessions.
The special adviser to the vice-chancellor on media matters, Wole Balogun, said the university Senate had also approved that two academic sessions – the second semester of the 2020/2021 academic session and the first semester of the 2021/2022 academic session – be run simultaneously.
Balogun said the approval for resumption was with a view to making up for the loss of eight months to the just suspended industrial action of ASUU.
He added that a circular dated October 18, signed by the University Registrar, Ibrahim Mufutau, had stated that resumption and registration for fresh students and lectures for the second semester for returning students began on October 17, 2022.
“Lectures for fresh students kick off on Monday, October 24 and on Thursday, October 27, while registration for fresh students ends as the university holds the 2021/2022 matriculation ceremony for fresh students on the following day, Friday, October 28.”
Speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend in Ado Ekiti on how the strike affected her, an EKSU student, Bosede Ojo said her hope of graduating this year has been dashed due to the strike.
Ojo said, “I ought to have completed my four-year programme by June this year but that is no longer possible”.
Delta Students Wary Of Suspension
A student of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPR), Warri, Delta State, Gabriel Chuka, has lamented the consequences of the long strike on students and the fact that it is still a ‘conditional’ suspension, after eight months.
Mary Apeki, a post-graduate student at the same University, said that since it is a conditional suspension, she is worried the union may return to strike if the government does not meet the conditions outlined for it by ASUU.
According to Bright Jikeme, a student of Delta State University, who said he sympathizes with his mates in other universities, said: “I’m happy the strike has been called-off and I hope they won’t change their mind. But I’m worried because most of the things my colleagues learned before the strike must have been forgotten because of the long stay at home. They will have to read to remember them again,” he said.
Students In Cross River Slow In Returning
A walk into the campuses of the University of Calabar (UniCal) and the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) revealed a scanty population of students coming into the campuses of both institutions.
A student who spoke to LEADERSHIP Weekend at the University of Calabar pavilion, Samuel Manyo, who claimed to be a new student in the Department of Dentistry, thanked ASUU and the federal government for sheathing their swords.
Students In High Spirits As UNIUYO Resumes Monday
The management of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom state, has fixed tomorrow as the resumption date for academic and non-academic activities.
According to the acting registrar and secretary to Council, Mr. Linus Okoko, the decision to reopen the school followed an emergency Senate meeting called by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo.
Okoko, therefore, urged the students to be sufficiently prepared to return, including the new students, who are to commence processing their admissions.
However, some anxious students, who spoke to LEADERSHIP Weekend expressed optimism, saying they suffered from idleness as there were no jobs to occupy themselves with.
Miss Blessing Godwin, a year three student in the Social Science Faculty, said she had to take on vocational training in fashion design and cake making “as a measure to relieve myself of boredom. I am happy that finally, we will be back in school so I can complete the remaining semesters and leave the campus for something else,” she said.
Her colleague, Mary Eyo, a 100-level student in the Arts faculty, said she had to engage herself with learning how to design and make shoes, while Effiong Bassey, exuding joy, lamented that “it was like hell for me staying at home every day without money to even visit my friends outside Uyo.”
Meanwhile, security officials and cleaners and other labourers were seen clearing the overgrown weeds, while petty provisions sellers and food vendors were clearing their spaces and erecting their stands in preparation for resumption.
In Rivers State, the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport, being a federal institution, was the only university that was affected by the strike.
The University, in a circular released on October 17, 2022, announced that it will commence its examination from October 29, 2022.
However, most of the students believe that the flood that has ravaged most communities in the Niger Delta region may not allow a majority of the students to resume immediately.
A 200-level student of the University, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said failure of the school’s management to consider students affected by the flood may lead to depression among students.
A female student, who also pleaded for anonymity, lamented that no time was given to students to settle down before preparing for the first semester examination.
She said: “I am angry and not ready to resume; they can’t release notice for resumption on Friday and expect us to all resume within one week. That is injustice.”
Lectures Resume In Imo
The Imo State University has resumed for lectures after the ASUU strike.
However, the students lamented the negative effects of the strike.
A final year student, Chukwuma Odu, revealed that if not for the strike, he would have completed the programme and look forward to attending the NYSC programme.
He admitted that students are in for a tough session and have to face the challenges.
Mixed Reactions As FUD Fixes October 31 For Resumption
There were mixed reactions among the students of Federal University, Dutse, over the suspension of prolonged ASSU strike as they described the new action as a welcome development but that lessons must be learn by all parties involved in the national education management.
Ibrahim Mustapha, a Level-300 undergraduate of the department of agriculture, faulted ASUU and federal government for playing with the future of Nigeria by allowing the unnecessary strike to disrupt the university academic session for over eight months.
However, the Senate of the Federal University, Dutse, at its 55th emergency meeting held on Wednesday, 19th October, 2022, approved Monday, October 31for resumption of academic activities for the continuation of 2020/2021 academic session.
For Aisha Sulaiman, a level-200 student of Computer Science, the strike suspension was a good decision.
“Even though ASUU was compelled to suspend the strike after achieving nothing, we hope the Union and other related academic and Labor unions will consider using other means for negotiating their demands as strike now appears to be old fashioned in modern Nigerian society,” she declared
UDUS Resumes Activities Tomorrow
Adeniyi Olugbemi, Sokoto
Rising from its 349th (Special) meeting held on Thursday, 20 October, the Senate of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, UDUS, approved Monday, October 24, for the resumption of academic activities.
The approval signed by U.F Abubakar, on behalf of the University Registrar and issued to our correspondent by Ismaila Mohammed Yauri, the university’s public relations officer, stated that the Senate at the meeting approved both reviewed 2021/2022 session undergraduate academic session and 2022/2023 session post graduate academic calendar.
Ngige Is Planning To Ban ASUU To Reap Union’s Assets, Says Osodeke
BY FEMI OYEWESO, Abeokuta
Meanwhile, the national president of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke has accused the minister of labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, of planning to proscribe the union in order to appropriate its assets.
Osodeke said ASUU’s philosophy is premised on aligning with a worthy cause for the progress of the country’s educational sector and its positive multiplier-effects on every other area of the nation, adding that e minister’s plans will fail.
The ASUU president also warned Vice Chancellors of public universities in Nigeria to shun dressing themselves in apparels of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of universities when in reality they are just the first among their equals in the academic community.
Osodeke spoke while delivering a goodwill message at the special commemorative programme organised by the ASUU chapter of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye in Ogun State , to honour the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde, whose tenure ended two weeks ago and was succeeded by a cancer pathologist, Prof. Deji Agboola.
Osodeke, who described Dr. Chris Ngige as a jester over his efforts at proscribing ASUU, also berated the federal government for always being envious of ASUU’s achievements at setting qualitative and enduring standards in the areas of infrastructural provisions and services when compared to the substandard version it preferred dishing out despite the sufficient funds at its disposal.
“I can see why Ngige is interested in banning ASUU because once ASUU is proscribed, all the union’s assets automatically become federal government’s property even when the government is bereft of ideas to put in place, qualitative assets in the midst of sufficient funds at its disposal as done in the University of Ibadan, UniPort, University of Maiduguri among other places.
“You will never succeed in banning ASUU because ours is a union that assesses the system and aligns with worthy courses without being biased for the progress of the Nigerian educational society.”
Commenting on the VCs and ASUU’s relationship towards achieving excellent university administration, Osodeke maintained that any Vice Chancellor, who looks at the system and sees himself as one among equals, will not have problems running his university.
Citing examples of some universities where their VCs and Visitors see give approval before a university lecturer can be promoted, even despite the recommendation of the governing councils for such, he said some university VCs act with military fiats.
“One thing we have gotten wrong is that in the universities, we look at the VCs as Chief Executive Officers (C.E.Os) which by the law, it is not true. A Vice Chancellor is just one among equals and it’s only when he sees himself as one that he will not have a problem with ASUU”.
“All the actions and things done by the committee set up; you are to look at those committees’ actions and agree or disagree. And when you disagree, you go back to them. Unfortunately, what we currently have in Nigeria is that over 90 percent of our universities today are VCs, who look at themselves as C.E.Os and there is nowhere in the laws that permits a VC as C.E.O. because everything he does can be challenged”.
ASUU National President however, commended the outgoing VC, Professor Olatunde for achieving a “most peaceful” administration during his tenure, stressing that the celebration accorded him by the OOU chapter of his union clearly attested to that.
“Having assessed Professor Olatunde and found him worthy, the union was glad to associate with him to the extent that we have to suspend every other official engagements of the union to celebrate him. It is a pride for us to have a Voice Chancellor whom ASUU believed deserved to be honoured”.
Earlier in his address, Chairperson of ASUU, OOU chapter, Dr. Joel Okewale, hailed the immediate past Vice – Chancellor for manifesting the spirit of comradeship while his tenure lasted.
Dr. Okewale said that the spirit of comradeship and willingness of Prof. Olatunde to engage, as opposed to bossing over everyone, led to many fruitful discussions, acceptance and implementation of proposals in the interest of OOU.
