#ASUUSTRIKE: We Are Tired Of Staying At Home - Lecturers

Now when the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is well into its fourth month, some lecturers are coming out in the open to advocate the suspension of the industrial action. Writing on his Facebook wall, one of the lecturers said: “He who fights and run away lives to fight another day”. Jude Osy Nwankwo, who lectures at the University of Nigeria (UNN), admitted that the strike is taking effect on the lecturers. His words: “We don tire. . . this strike don tire us for Nsukka o. Even traders in the market are affected by the strike. Meanwhile, how you dey cope with the strike?” Some of the responses to Nwankwo’s post however indicated that not all lecturers are negatively affected by the strike as those in the big towns have kept themselves busy with consultancies that bring them income to cushion the effects of government’s no-work-no-pay policy. Below are excerpts: Jude Osy Nwankwo: He who fights and run away lives to fight another day. Golden Collins Chigoo: lolz i can see dat dis strike is takin effect on u. Jude Osy Nwankwo: My dear, we don tire. Adaora Uzoamaka Nwafor: Students are crying, Lecturers too are crying! ASSU bikozianu!!!!! Manumehe Raphael Uzoma @ Adaora…. Lecturers crying? Ah! I don’t know about that oh! I think it’s the students that are crying and not the Lecturers. Adaora Uzoamaka Nwafor: My Dear Raph, they are, it’s affecting everybody. No one is left out. Manumehe Raphael Uzoma Adaora… It’s affecting everybody. Fine. But Lecturers are not crying. Students are, probably. Jude Osy Nwankwo: My dear Ralph, this strike don tire us for Nsukka o. Even traders in the market are affected by the strike. Meanwhile, how you dey cope with the strike? Manumehe Raphael Uzoma: Em, well, sorry about the situation the strike put you in. As for me? Well, I’ve been busy with one group research or the other (official) + being a Visiting Facilitator to one blue chip company or the other (unofficial). This pretty sums up my activities during this strike period. Manumehe Raphael Uzoma: All the aforementioned happens during the day. In the evening I conduct my Music Classes/Choir Practice for different Choirs throughout the week. Pentecostal Choirs are now inclusive. 3 Catholic Choirs, 2 Pentecostal Choirs. So, honestly, I’m not feeling the strike. Finances have run to an all time low, but I’m still pushing on. Jude Osy Nwankwo: Lolz @Azubuike. Ralph you’re lucky to be in Ibadan. The situation is so bad in Nsukka because the students are the driving force of Nsukka economy. Nothing is happening here bro. It will be reminded, that ASUU has embarked upon an indefinite strike June 30, 2013. The lecturers protest against the FG’s failure to honour a 2009 agreement signed between it and ASUU in 2009 pertaining to issues of university funding and improvement of infrastructure in the sector.