From Saka Bolaji, Minna
The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai in Niger state has again been shut following a seven-day warning strike declared on Monday by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
It was the second time within one month that the institution would be closed as a result of strike declared by unions in the university, the first being by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities over unpaid hard earned allowances put at about N500m.
The government only five days ago entered into a memorandum of Understanding with ASUU on how to settle the debt before NASU began its own strike.
The grouse of NASU was the non-payment of allowances to its members put at about N1.5 billion.
As a result the academic office, bursary, library and porter’s room were put under lock and key by the union members who also patrolled the campus to ensure compliance with the strike.
The strike could also paralyse the convocation activities of the university being planned for immediately after the Easter holidays.
The Joint Action Committee Chairman, Mustapha Abdulkhadir, said the unions were constrained to embark on the strike because “government has turned deaf ears to all our requests
“This is the appropriate time to embark on the warning strike as the university’s second convocation ceremony preparation is at its peak. Our plan is to disrupt the convocation that is why we have chosen this time so that they will know that every staff of the university is important irrespective of his or her status” the JAC chairman declared.
Abdulkhadir said the unions during the national strike advised the Niger State Government and the management of IBB university to use the opportunity to address the problem “but they did not do so
“If they did I am sure we will not be embarking on this strike,’’ he said.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Nasir Maiturari, could not be reached for comments on the development.
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