UNN workers threaten to cut off water, electricity supply

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of trade unions in the University of Nigeria Nsukka, has threatened a total shut down of water and power supply in the institution.
The threat followed the ongoing face-off between the workers and the Federal Government, which had culminated into a nationwide strike.
The workers’ union involved in the industrial action include: the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT)
Mr. Paul Arua, chairman of JAC in UNN disclosed that the ongoing nationwide strike was comprehensive and total In UNN until the Federal Government met their demands.
“I am leading the enforcement team to ensure that no non-academic staff enters any office to work in UNN until government meets our demands, then the national executives will suspend the strike.
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“As part of making the strike total in UNN, the enforcement team will make sure that electricity and water supply in UNN are shut-down”, he said.
He advised students that have returned to go home as the non-academic staff would not allow offices and classrooms to open for work or lecture.
“The best thing for the students is to go home till the strike is called-off; there will be no lecture, by tomorrow there will be no electricity and water supply in the university,” he stated.
When contacted, the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNN, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Abada said lecturers were ready to teach students since ASUU was not on strike. “Students are welcome back to campus and should prepare to receive lectures because lecturers will be coming to class,” he said.
Also, in a swift reaction to the threat by the non-academic staff of the university, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, accused the union leaders in UNN of having a hidden agenda.
“I know that non-academic staff of universities are on nationwide strike, but I have not heard any university where the union shut-down electricity and water supply in campus.
“Unless leaders of non-academic staff in UNN have hidden agenda and want to hide under the ongoing nationwide strike to execute it. The strike has nothing to do with shutting down electricity and water supply in UNN,” he said.