Life has returned to many of the nation’s public universities following the resumption of duties by lecturers after the strike of over five months ended on Tuesday.
Though full lectures are yet to start in some schools, students, lecturers and other members of staff have been seen on campuses discussing the suspension of the strike.
In many of the universities visited by our correspondents on Wednesday, teaching did not go on even though the lecture rooms were open.
The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Nasir Fagge, on Tuesday in Minna, Niger State, had directed the striking lecturers to return to work following an agreement the union reached with the Federal Government.
Lecturers heeded the directive as they resumed for duties on Wednesday.
At the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State, the faculty offices were open to staff, students and lecturers.
Also at the FUT Minna, the Deputy Dean, Micro-Biology Department, Dr. Faruk Kuta, said the Dean’s Committee of the university would meet to adjust the academic calendar to accommodate the lost time.
He said, “It is after the meeting that they will approve and announce the date of resumption.
“Before resumption, we must have concluded adjusting the calendar so that students will not lose anything even if it means organising weekend classes, we must do that to help our students to meet the academic standard of the university.”
Also, Busari Abdulkareem of the Centre for Preliminary and Extra Moral Studies at the university said, “The Senate is working assiduously to see how the calendar will be adjusted to ensure that the students did not miss much.”
In Plateau State, returning students of the University of Jos appealed to landlords to slash their rent to make up for the time the strike lasted.
President, Student Union Government of the university, Mr. Ajik Magaji, who made the call, said it had become necessary in view of the enormous stress the strike had on the students.
He also appealed to the authorities to reopen the school in January 2014 to enable the students to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities with their relatives.
He said, “We are appealing to the landlords on compassionate grounds to slash the rents because we were not prepared for the strike and most of us, especially students staying off campus just paid for our rents a few weeks after the strike started.
One of our correspondents observed at the Naraguta and Students’ Village hostels that some students have started returning to the university.
One of the students, who simply identified herself as Seyi, said she had to return because she was tired of staying at home.
At Obafemi Awolowo University, a few students turned up on campus.
There was also an increased human and vehicular traffic in the institution.
A 400-level Law student, Banke Ilori, said, “Our time has been wasted but I am happy that the strike is over.”
However, the Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Biodun Olanrewaju, said the university opened about two weeks ago.
But students and workers of the University of Nigeria on Wednesday protested the Federal Government’s suspension of the university’s Chairman and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Emeka Enejere.
The protesters marched through the major streets in Enugu metropolis carrying placards.
Some of the placards read, “Recall Enejere now or we would burn down UNN,” and “FG, stop all these vengeful policies,” “It is Enejere or no school,” among others.
The students particularly warned that if the government failed to rescind the decision, they would boycott lectures from January 2014.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said the protest was peaceful.
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