Abuja – The National University Commission (NUC,) has directed Vice Chancellor’s of public universities shut as a result of the ongoing strike by lecturers to reopen the universities immediately.
The NUC gave the directive in Abuja on Monday in a letter signed by its Director of Finance and Accounts, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.
The letter was addressed to all vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities.
It directed them 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.(Punch)
