ASUU shuts down varsities •AS NLC warns Northern govs over minimum wage •Says they are inviting anarchy

ACADEMIC activities were paralysed at various universities in the country on Monday, following the commencement of the one-week strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Our correspondents who monitored the situation observed that all the lecturers obeyed the union’s directive to stay away from classrooms or any official duty during the strike expected to last one week.
At the University of Lagos, students were seen roaming the campus, especially the new intakes who had been busy with registration in the last one week, while various lecture theatres were empty.
Some of the students, however, used the opportunity to unwind as they gathered at various relaxation points to gossip and eat.
A visit to the halls of residence showed that some of the students had travelled as they  looked vacant with a few motion photographers being idle.
At the Lagos State University, the situation was not different but with very low commercial activities, perhaps because the university is non-residential.
Speaking to Nigerian Tribune, a student of the University of Lagos, who identified herself as Yemisi Daramola, lamented the situation, describing the situation as worrisome.
Daramola said: “I had the belief that the strike would not go on. I thought the Federal Government would resolve the matter with ASUU before now but I’m surprised that nothing was done.”
According to her, the action of ASUU is not bad, considering the level of decay in Nigerian universities today and the wages of the lecturers, compared to what most political office holders take home.
In her view, ASUU has taken the action to help every Nigerian parent and child who does not have money to enrol in private university or foreign institution.
“I see it as our fight but because student unionism has been politicised across the country, we have lost our power to protest this bad quality education the government is providing,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday, condemned the  interpretation of the National Minimum Wage Act by the 19 northern governors and their intention not to implement it across board, warning that the governors were inviting anarchy.
NLC also warned in a statement that it would resist such a move, as it was against the law of the country and the agreement earlier signed with labour by the  Governors Forum, in which all the 36 states governors, including the northern governors, were fully represented.
“The governors should realise that the trampling on the country’s constitution, which is the National Minimum Wage Act and the refusal to obey an agreement it entered into in writing is not only the height of irresponsibility, but an invitation to anarchy,” NLC Head of Information and Public Relations, Chris Uyot, said on Monday.
He said the attempt to regionalise the payment of the minimum wage by allegedly shortchanging workers in the northern states was an illegal and criminal act that should be strongly condemned.

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