Examinations going on in many Nigerian universities were stopped on Monday after the two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began.
Some of the universities affected include the Federal University Dutse in Jigawa State, the University of Jos in Plateau State, and the University of Benin in Edo State.
Others, such as Bayero University Kano and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, had already finished their exams just before the strike started.
At the Federal University Dutse, students began their second-semester exams on 30 September and were supposed to finish by 18 October.
Read also : Just in: ASUU begins two-week warning strike
However, some students told our reporter that they were informed exams would continue after the ASUU strike.
“We are having BIO 204 today, but they have shifted it to when they come back from the strike,” said Abdulqawiy Abdulazeez, a Zoology student.
Students said they got this message through their class WhatsApp groups.
A final-year Economics student, Yunusa Abubakar, said his last paper, which was supposed to hold on Wednesday, 15 October, has been cancelled.
He came to campus to meet his project supervisor but couldn’t because of the strike.
At ATBU Bauchi, one student said over the phone that their exams were already finished, though some final-year students are still waiting for their project defence.
When our reporter visited Bayero University Kano, students leaving with their luggage said they had finished their semester exams and were not affected by the strike.
It was also confirmed that exams were disrupted at UNIBEN on Monday.
ASUU strike
ASUU lecturers are protesting because the government has not completed the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement and has not released the withheld three and a half months of salaries.
They are also asking for payment of the remaining 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears owed for over four years, and the release of withheld cooperative contribution deductions, among other issues.
No work, no pay
In response, the government told Vice-Chancellors of all federal universities to strictly apply the “No work, No pay” rule for lecturers who are not working because of the strike.
In a letter to the vice-chancellors, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, instructed them to take attendance and record all academic staff those present and doing their jobs, and those absent or on strike and to “ensure that salary payment for the period of work stoppage is withheld from those who fail to perform their duties.”
