By JERRY PAM AND ENOCH TYULEN
Lectures have since commenced in some faculties in the University of Jos after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended a one-month-old strike.
ASUU embarked on an indefinite industrial action on the 13th of August 2017, over unresolved and continues issues with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Following the suspension of the strike action on the 8th of September 2017, students whose exams were interrupted were first to resume in order to complete their papers.
On a tour to faculties of Arts, Education, Social Science and Management Sciences, UniJos Echo observed that lectures have commenced in earnest as a handful of students were seen in classes receiving lectures.
Dr. Taye Obateru of the Department of Mass Communication was spotted delivering a lecture to the 300 level students of Mass Communication Department in the Faculty of Arts.
Bawa Ika, a 300 level student of History and International communication, said he had not fully resumed because his departmental timetable had just been released. He was however optimistic that lectures will commence soonest. Azi Jane, a 200 level student of Mass Communication expressed her satisfaction with the commencement of lectures in the department. She further said it afforded her the opportunity to meet with friends after the long break and also to continue her studies.
Echo Unijos also spoke with Jerry Philip and Usman Danlami, 300 level students of the Department of Political Science who both said their timetable is out but that lectures are inconsistent and further expressed dissatisfaction with the inconsistency of lectures considering the cost of transportation to and fro school without having to receive lectures.
Few students were seen at the Faculty of Education after lectures and a respondent who declined to reveal his identity said they had received only one lecture out of the three they were supposed to have for the day. They attributed this to the fact that most students do not have the timetable hence, do not know when or where lectures are taking place.
In an interview with Ezekiel Azadi, a Cab Driver he said students had not fully resumed. This is evident in the low patronage of cabs navigating the campus. This has made things difficult for them as it remains a major source of their livelihood. ‘Nothing moves for us when there are no students’ he said.
Similarly, Annabel the sales girl at Chinons Eatery said work has been boring, especially during the strike period. She, however, expressed optimism with the turnout of events following the suspension of the ASUU strike. ‘Patronage is now increasing’ she said.
