From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
Academic and administrative activities have been brought to a halt at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU), Katsina, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and four non-academic unions of the institution commenced a two-week warning strike over unmet demands.
Briefing journalists on Monday, the ASUU branch chairman, Comrade Murtala Isah Kwara, said the strike became necessary following the failure of the university’s governing council and the Katsina State Government to honour long-standing agreements.
According to a statement issued and signed on Monday, he said the issues at stake border on conditions of service, security of examinations and records, and the autonomy of the university.
“We wish to make it clear that this action is not taken out of pleasure or haste, but as a last resort after all avenues of dialogue and understanding have been exhausted,” Kwara said.
He lamented that since 2020, when the union and government reached an agreement, no meaningful progress had been made toward its implementation, describing the government’s attitude as a “lack of seriousness and responsibility.”
Flanked by officials of the other four in-house unions, Kwara warned that if the government fails to address the demands after the two-week warning strike, members would reconvene to determine the next line of action.
He appealed to parents, students, and the Katsina community for understanding, saying the strike aims to compel the government to show genuine commitment to resolving the lingering issues.