Academic activities were today grounded in several universities across Nigeria as a result of the one-week nationwide warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Worst hit included Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Lagos State University (LASU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba in Ondo State, and the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Students were seen in groups obviously discussing the development, while those who came for early morning lectures were disappointed, as there was no lecture in sight.

Some of the students who spoke appealed to the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the problem in the interest of their future.

One of them, expressing sadness over the situation, said: “As we speak, I am supposed to have a lecture but right now, nothing is happening in school – No lectures, we are not happy about it because it will affect the number of years we spend here.

“We are calling on the federal government to do something urgent to solve the problem for the sake of our future.

Another student lamenting, said: “I have no choice but to go back home because nothing is going on here. I am not happy about it. I pray for a quick resolution of the problem so we can face our studies.”

At LASU, Miss Stella Nwachukwu, a student of the university’s Department of Microbiology, said that the strike was unfortunate, lamenting that it would affect students negatively.

Nwachukwu urged the Federal Government to meet with the ASUU leaders and honour the agreement it had with the union in 2009 to stop the strike.

ASUU had declared the warning strike ‎on Tuesday to press home its demand for implementation of an agreement it reached with the Federal Government in 2009.

Part of the union’s grievances include: the non-revitalisation of nation’s universities’ autonomy and shortfall in staff salaries.

Also, the issues of staff primary schools and the non-implementation of the agreement it reached with the government in 2009 among their grievances.

Others are: lack of registration of Universities Pension Company (NUPECO) and the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances.

•Additional reports from NAN and Channels.

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