The three striking unions of the Nigeria Universities in Nnamdi
Azikiwe University Awka have alleged that the school authorities have assigned
their responsibilities to Corps members to carry out their duties.
They lamented that the school authorities are insensitive to
their plight by engaging ad-hoc staff to carry out their duties.
The unions urged the university management to refrain from
engaging non staff to do their jobs until the ongoing strike is called off by
their national body of the unions.
Mild drama ensued before the commencement of the 2017/2018 Matriculation
exercise of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, as the members of the Non
Academic Staff Union of universities (NASU), Senior staff Association of
Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and National Academic Association of
Technologists, (NAAT) currently on
strike attempted to disrupt the ceremony.
The unions met a brick wall as joint security operatives on ground
denied the protesters to gain access to the university promises.
Speaking with newsmen after the exercise, the chapter chairman
and coordinating chairperson of the three unions, Njideka Nwangwu who led the
protest said they were disappointed that the school authority would embark of
matriculation without the contribution of the three striking Non-Academic Staff
unions.
Others at the protest ground regretted the action of the
university and called on the federal government to intervene in the
Non-Academic Staff Unions ongoing strike to men enable them resume their duty.
Reacting to the move embarked upon by the striking unions, , the
Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Joseph Ahaneku said the
school authority do identify with the striking workers, and called on the
national body of the unions to liaise with the minister of labour and relevant authorities
in the interest of the Nigeria Federal University system.
The three striking unions have been on strike for about three
months and federal government is however been called upon to resolve the
agitation between the earned allowance fund released for the Four Unions in the
Universities, ASUU, NAAT, SSANU, NASU to share as their bargain to meet up with
their 2009 agreement made to the Nigeria federal universities.
END
