An online petition demanding the management of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) to backtrack on its recently released school calendar which announced January 3, 2023, as the resumption date has been launched with over 3,000 students signing the petition.

The petition, launched by a student, Ahmed Manga, on change.org stated that the release of the new calendar after more than eight months of strike action embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had dampened the enthusiasm of students.

A report published last week indicated that ABU’s delayed resumption could be connected to the school’s financial crises following the order of the National Industrial Court for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to mop up the school’s accounts to pay N2.5 billion to 110 staff of the institutions who were disengaged in 1996.

However, the petition stated that: “The newly released 2021/2022 academic calendar has dampened our enthusiasm. While other schools have fully resumed academic activity and preparations for exams are already underway, the Management of Ahmadu Bello University has arbitrarily and unfairly chosen to extend students’ stay at home till January 2023. Why?

“As ABU students, we believe this decision is deeply detrimental and inconsiderate to our needs and aspirations and quite out of touch with the current realities of our nation and the sensibilities of students, their parents and even lecturers themselves,” it further stated.

By 4:56pm on Wednesday, the petition which has a target of 5,000 signatures had garnered 3,030 signatures.

The management of ABU however said it was not aware of the online petition but said the 2021/2022 academic calendar was approved by the school senate not the management.

The school’s Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Auwalu Umar, said the management lacks the power to approve school calendars as it is the sole responsibility of the senate which comprises all professors, deans, head of departments and directors of the university.

Umar however said a meeting was held two weeks ago between the management of the school with student leaders and the issue of resumption was discussed extensively.

“The students saw wisdom in the decision of the senate and they were expected to go back and engage with other students. The new calendar is for the benefit of the senate, management and the students,” he said. (Daily Trust)

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