ARTICLE 3

THE RECENT KWARARAFA UNIVERSITY TEACHING STAFF STRIKE

BY UTIKI INGYESI JEREMIAH

(KUW/U14/MCM/2017)

A strike is an organized refusal to work by employees of any establishment   because of a disagreement over pay or condition of work. It is a weapon which employees resort to if negotiations with their employers breakdown. Kwararafa varsity is used to strike actions by lecturers and sometimes non teaching staff members.

The recent strike action by Kwararafa university academic staff forum is unprecedented one. While strike actions by various government organizations, are common, never in history of this country has there been a strike action by a private university of this kind. The strike action has succeeded in putting the academic activities of this great varsity to a stagnant one.

The lecturers gave many reasons for going on strike actions. They alleged that their salaries have not been paid some months in the year 2013, and that some of their members were not paid their salaries for 12 months calendar year in 2014. They further complained that even in this year their salaries for three months have not been paid. They therefore went on a four day warning strike and could not be paid after the management promised paying them.

The forum also complained that most of their members are due for promotion and confirmation, yet the management is doing nothing in respect of this issue. Rather sending threatening signals on the academic staff forum. The strike action how ever has caused a great deal of delay in academic activities by making them mute.

Let us hope that never again will such an action occur. The management should ensure that matters concerning the welfare of all categories of workers in the university are promptly resolved before they degenerate to conflicts or reach an impasse. We all have a stake in the growth and development of this great university.