FG Directs VCs To Reopen Varsities, Resume Lectures

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari and ASUU president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke

Federal government has directed vice-chancellors to reopen universities and resume academic activities across the country.

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

It was addressed to all vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities.

“Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; restore the daily activities and routines of the various university campuses,” the letter reads.

The National Industrial Court (NIC), Abuja had last week ordered the lecturers to call off the strike, saying that industrial action is detrimental to public university students, who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions.

But ASUU subsequently filed an appeal challenging the verdict.

This is coming on the heels of the seven-month industrial action embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) since February 14, 2022 over poor welfare packages, decayed infrastructure and payment system for staff.

Several meetings between the federal government and ASUU ended in deadlock, which compelled the federal government to file a suit at NICN over the prolonged strike.

Cousel to the federal government, Mr James Igwe had sought for an interlocutory injunction, restraining ASUU from continuing with the industrial action pending the determination of the suit.

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