Asuu Vs Govt: Hide and Seek Game At Abu

The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the institution are currently playing hide and seek with the directive by the Minister of Education for the striking lecturers to resume teaching or be sacked.

Also, the local chapter of the union is however distributing relief materials to its members to cushion the effect of the lack of payment of salary for the past five months, while there are pressures on some of the lecturers from their family members to respond positively to the government ultimatum.

When The Nation visited the institution on Wednesday, the school was still empty as the lecturers were yet to comply with the directive, while the university was yet to issue a circular directing the resumption of lectures by the students.

It was gathered that the University Governing Council has been meeting since Monday to find a common ground and an amicable resolution of the impasse.

A highly placed source close to the Council told The Nation that the council is trying to ensure that the issue is resolved amicably so that we will not have another strike locally when the national strike is called off.

The source said “you see, majority of those in the Governing Council are elected members from the Senate and the Congregation. Ordinarily, those people are not supposed to attend the meeting as long as the strike is on. But ASUU looked the other way so that they will attend the meeting.

“They met on Monday and could not reach any resolution and had to adjourn. The meeting has since resume. But I want to say that they are being careful in carrying out the directive because they are aware of the impact it will have.

“In any case, the school was never closed. Students are enjoying all the privileges they are supposed to enjoy except the absence of lectures. But the question is, who will bring the lecturers to come and teach?

“Even...