By Philip Yatai

The Management of Kaduna State University (KASU) has insisted that academic activities for continuation of Second Semester 2020/2021 academic session resumes on May 9.

The university’s management stated this in a statement signed by the university Public Relations Officer, Mr Adamu Bargo and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Thursday.

“The Management of Kaduna State University wishes to reaffirm to parents, students and the general public that  academic activities in the university will continue on Monday, May 9, 2022.

“This is in line with the university academic calendar,” the management has said.

NAN recalls that the university’s  management had on April 26, announced the resumption of academic activities on the said date.

But the university’s branch of Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), on May 1,  said that it has not pulled out of the ongoing strike. 

The union in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr Peter Adamu, and Assistant Secretary, Dr Akos Ibrahim dissociates itself from the purported circular released by the university authorities asking students and lecturers to resume academic activities on May 9.

According to the lecturers, the directive violates the position of the union in the current struggle.

“The attention of the union was drawn to a purported circular trending on social media platforms stating that KASU Management has pulled out of the current roll-over strike action declared by ASUU.

“Specifically, the memo dated April 26, 2022, directed all members of staff and students to resume academic activities by Monday, May 9, 2022.

“It is imperative at this point to clarify this and properly inform and educate the public that ASUU-KASU dissociates itself from the purported circular released by the university management.

“It purely violates the position of the union in the current struggle.”

The lecturers described the circular as a “ploy” to misinform the public, parents and guardians, and to blackmail the union.

According to it, the university management has a right to open the university while members of the union also have the legitimate right to continue with the ongoing strike action.

“It is important to note that the management of the university is not the mouthpiece of the Union and cannot speak on behalf of the union.

“Therefore, the union advises parents and guardians not to allow their children to resume for now until the current roll-over strike action is suspended.”

The union explained that the on-going strike is in the best interest of the university system and no amount of threat would cow the branch to withdraw from the current struggle.