The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked the management of the University of Abuja to halt recruitment and promotions until the federal government reconstitutes governing councils.

In 2023, the National Universities Commission (NUC) dissolved the governing councils of federal universities following a presidential directive.

At the end of their congress on Thursday, members of the academic union at UniAbuja declared an indefinite strike over a lingering disagreement with the management of the university.

The dispute, TheCable reported, borders on four major issues, including ASUU’s interest in a multi-stakeholder microfinance bank, promotion procedures in the absence of a governing council, ongoing election for faculty deanship, and alleged illegal appointments.

Sylvanus Ugoh, chairman of UniAbuja ASUU, said in a communique issued after the congress that the trustees and principal officers in the union’s national leadership have permitted the branch to proceed on an indefinite strike until the demands are addressed.

Ugoh said recruitment without due process should be stopped until the governing council is reconstituted.

He said the union is demanding that illegal employment already conducted be reviewed in line with the laws of the university and NUC’s guidelines on good governance and financial management.

He added that “illegal promotion exercises” should be suspended and the process of the 2022/2023 exercise be reviewed by the governing council when it is reconstituted.

Ugoh said the union demands that an advertorial for the vacancy of the seat of vice-chancellor should be withdrawn.

He said elections for deanship of various faculties and provost of college of health sciences must be conducted within one day.

Ugoh said the union seeks the inclusion of its representative on the board of the UniAbuja Micro Finance Bank.

“All the members of ASUU University of Abuja therefore withdraw their services to the University until the issues in contention are resolved,” the communique reads.

“There shall be no lectures in any form, no statutory meetings, no supervision of projects, no departmental or Faculty Board meetings, and no submission of results.”

Aisha Yahaya, a 300-level female student of the Food and Science Technology Department, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil, Kano State, has been found dead.

Yahaya, who was said to have passed on Monday, April 22, 2024, after writing her first examination during the school’s ongoing first-semester examination, was found in a student lodge outside the school premises.

According to a student of the school who craved anonymity because of fear of victimisation, “she was found dead immediately after she finished her first paper. Some people who are close to the deceased student said she might have died as a result of examination pressure. The incident happened outside campus, in the students’ area, to be precise. She was a 300-level student in the Food and Science Technology Department.”

Meanwhile, in a condolence statement by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, signed jointly by its Ameer, Harun Harun, and Public Relations Officer 1, Ibrahim Tata, said, “Death, the inevitable of all creatures, is decreed by Allah. However, whatever happens, has been destined by Allah, the Almighty, and it’s unquestionable to our creator.

“The MSSN, ADUSTECH Wudil, commiserates with the family, relatives, friends, students, members of staff, and the university management for the loss of Aisha Yahaya Olabisi.

“The deceased was a student from the Department of Food Science and Technology, Level 300, where she had a record of social responsibility to humanity and to her immediate society.

“We pray that Allah forgives her shortcoming, grants her solace in the grave, and mercifully makes Jannatul Firdaus her final abode. May Allah grant the family members the Iman to bear the loss and compensate them immensely with goodness and protection.”

The school’s Students Union Government (SUG), in a statement signed by the association’s spokesperson, Hassan Kani, for the president of the group, Adamu Ado, dated Tuesday, April 23, partly read, “We are really sorry to hear about the loss of Aisha Olabisi, a Level 3 student of Food Science and Technology. May Allan grant her peace and blessings.

“Please accept our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to her parents during this difficult time. Aisha will always be remembered for her contributions and the memories she leaves behind. During this time of grief, may Allah grant Aisha Olabisi Jannatul Firdaus and provide her family with the strength and patience to navigate through this difficult period.”

Meanwhile, the school authorities were yet to confirm Yahaya’s demise.

The University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resolved to embark on an indefinite strike to highlight concerns within the union.

The decision was made during a congress held at the institution’s Permanent Site, with Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, the branch Chairman, confirming the resolution.

The strike, effective immediately, aims to address various issues affecting the union, Leadership reported.