Just in: FG orders VCs to reopen varsities, resume lectures

The Federal Government has ordered vice-chancellors of public universities shut as a result of strike declared by lecturers to reopen their institutions and allow students to resume lectures.

This was announced in a letter signed by the Director of Finance and Accounts of the National Universities Commission, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.

The Punch, which claimed to have obtained the NUC letter on Monday, repored that it was addressed to all vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities.

It directed the VCs to “ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; restore the daily activities and routines of the various university campuses.”

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria last Wednesday ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its ongoing nationwide strike and resume work while negotiations with the FG on its demands should continue.

 

But the union has challenged the order at the appeal court.

Students under the aegis of National Association of Nigerians Students (NANS) have protected in some parts of the country including blocking major roads and access to the Lagos airport to put pressure on the government to agree with ASUU and reopen the shut public universities.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to demand improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

Several meetings between ASUU and the Federal Government have ended in a deadlock.