- The admission of fresh students of the University of Lagos was halted due to strike
- Protesting workers shut down the gate of the university causing heavy traffic
- The Chairman of the Non-academic Staff Union of Unilag Kehinde Ajibade claimed that the federal government was insensitive to their plight
Aspiring students who came for screening and admission at the University of Lagos (Unilag) were stranded due to a protest by the non-academic staff of the institution.
Some of the admission seekers, who arrived at the university as early as 8am, complained that they were not attended to.
Kenny Olu, a candidate, said: “When I came, only a few people were here. We had formed a queue, hoping that other candidates would soon come. Later, we heard that some workers were on strike and they shut down the gate of the university. Those of us inside now find it difficult to go out. After a while, they opened the gate and we thought they would come and attend to us but nobody came.”
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The university authorities had previously notified all successful Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination candidates to report at the Multipurpose Hall A for screening.
The candidates had been contacted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board and had printed their admission letters.
The protesting workers shut down the gate of the university, thereby causing a traffic jam on the main road. This par*lyzed other activities in the university.
The workers, complaining of being treated as “unimportant elements”, said they were protesting the disparity that arose from the N23bn earned allowance recently released by the Federal Government.
Armed with placards, the workers swore not to resume work unless they are positively considered.
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The Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Unilag Kehinde Ajibade said: “The FG is not sensitive enough to tackle our problems. How can government give only two per cent of N23bn to non-academic staff? Unilag’s case is the worst. We were all given N23 million as earned allowance. We have been robbed and we totally reject that.
“We are not resuming work until our money is released. We know what the FG is trying to do, but it cannot work out. They want us to clash with the Academic Staff Union of Universities and cause a crisis within the university system. But we don’t have any issues with ASUU. It is the FG that we have issues with.”
NAIJ.com had earlier reported that the non-teaching staff unions of universities across Nigeria agreed to down tools on Monday, December 4.
According to the report, the umbrella of Joint Action Committee has directed all its branches nationwide to resume strike on Monday.
The three unions who are embarking on the industrial action are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions and National Association of Academic Technologists.
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Source: Naija.ng