The Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU), the Benue
State University (BSU) chapter, has
ordered its members on January 6, 2014,
Monday, to return to classes and commence
teaching immediately.
The directive is sequel to the decision of the
state government to pay ASUU-BSU
members arrears of five months salaries
covering the five month-old ASUU strike
nationwide.
Following the decision of the national
executive of ASUU to call off the industrial
action,the management of the institution
had directed all students to return back to
school on January 5.
However, members of the BSU-ASUU
refused to comply with the directive,
insisting that their salaries within the period
of the strike period must be paid by the
state government.
Mr. David Ikoni, the Chairman, ASUU-BSU
chapter, has asked members to resume
classes following the promise by the state
government to pay the withheld salaries of
lecturers while the strike lasted.
This call was made during an emergency
meeting of its congress held at the
institution in Makurdi.
"We urge all members to return to
classes because the state government
has started paying us from yesterday
(Monday) and that was even the more
reason why we called this congress.
"We also implore all students to return
for serious academic work because we
all have lost grounds and there is need
for each and everyone of us, both
students and lecturers alike to redouble
our efforts to ensure that every minute
of our time is utilised well," Mr. Ikoni
said in an interview with Vanguard.
According to reports, life is gradually
returning to the institution as old students
have started trickling into the campus.
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