ASUU shuts varsity down over unpaid salary

The Niger Delta University (NDU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Bayelsa state has reportedly commenced a sit-at-home protest following the inability of the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration to pay lecturers of the university five-month salary arrears.

TheNation reports that ASUU directed its members to vacate the campus and to suspend all academic activities till further notice this past weekend.

On Friday, April 29, lecturers reportedly did not show off for work, leading classrooms to be empty. Ongoing examinations were suspended and students were seen leaving the campus and the university community for their various homes.

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The  ASUU Chairman in NDU, Stanley Ogoun confirmed the situation to TheNation and said lecturers could no longer be discharging their duties without money to run their daily expenses.

He said: “We have started the sit-at-home action and this means suspension of all academic activities relating to teaching and examination of students.”

The Bayelsa State Government has, however, appealed to ASUU and other workers not to despair over the economic crisis facing the state insisting that clearing their backlog of salaries remained the first-line charge of Dickson.

In a statement, the state government revealed that it is going through sleepless nights to pay the workers.

A Financial Management Committee chaired by the deputy Governor, Mr. John Jonah, to review monthly financial obligations and satisfy the basic ones.

“To this effect, paying workers’ salaries always come first before other financial obligations. Steps are already being taken to ensure the payment of salaries within the shortest possible time.

“We are appealing to workers to exercise some patience because they will soon receive their pay. We also appreciate Bayelsans for displaying sense of maturity and understanding despite the difficult time they are going through,” the statement said.