ASUU Strike: Normal Academic Activities In Rivers

Normal academic activities have continued in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), its University of Education counterpart and University of Port Harcourt, the despite the on-going nationwide strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The national leadership of ASUU had called for strike following the alleged non-implementation of agreements with the  Federal Government.
However, a cross section of lecturers who spoke to The Tide at the  three campuses said that they were not aware of the strike.
The lecturers, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that their respective ASUU branches were yet to communicate them on the on-going strike, noting that until that was done, lectures will continue.
A cross section of students who spoke on the matter, described the strike as one too many, stressing that the situation was capable of disrupting the university calendar.
An official of the union in RSUST, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, said that the  on-going nationwide strike was real but for them, it made no difference since some of them were on strike.
The Public Relations Officers (PRO), Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Mr Desmond Wosu said that there was no indication that the university branch of ASUU will join the strike as normal academic activities were going on in the institution.
Mr Wosu, who spoke to The Tide on telephone, said  that the issues involved were too minor for lecturers in the university to join in the strike.
Meanwhile, academic activities at the University of Lagos were grounded yesterday in compliance with the national strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday.
ASUU, under the leadership of the National President, Dr Isa Fagge, had directed members of the union to embark on an indefinite strike nationwide.
Fagge said that the action followed the inability of the Federal Government to implement some of the issues contained in a 2009 agreement it had with the union.
He told newsmen in Lagos that the government had also reneged on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it entered into with the union in December 2011.
Our correspondent, who was at the University of Lagos to monitor the effect of the strike, reports that there was total compliance as lecturers shunned classes.
Few students were seen loitering around the campus and discussing the development in small groups.
One of the lecturers who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said that the strike was comprehensive and total, adding that there was no going back until their demands were met.
At the Lagos State University, Ojo, some students were seen having lectures early in the day but the ASUU chapter later circulated notices creating awareness on the strike after which it gained ground.
The ASUU chapter in the institution said that it was at the forefront in compliance with the strike.
The ASUU Chairman, LASU chapter, Dr Jamiu Oluwatoki said in an interview that the strike was a collective decision and no university was expected to object to the directives of the national body.
Meanwhile, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has urged the Federal Government to accede to the demands of the striking university lecturers.
Chief Deolu Ogunbajo, the National Publicity Secretary, NAPTAN said  that it was unfortunate that the government was reneging on an agreement it willingly entered into with the union.
It will be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Senior Staff Association of Polytechnics have also been on strike since April.