UNIPORT Announces ‘Marathon’ Exams For Students After Eight-Month ASUU’s Strike

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, has announced that is has resumed activities.

The school announced resumption of its academic activities following the suspension of the eight-month-old strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

According to a circular released by the institution, on Friday, students will be starting their examination from Monday, October 24.

The circular is titled, “Approved Revised Academic Calendar for 2020/2021 session and 2021/2022 session full time.”

SaharaReporters on Friday reported that ASUU suspended its eight-month-old protracted strike after an overnight National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

SaharaReporters had also on Tuesday reported that members of ASUU voted on Tuesday and Wednesday at their branches over their resolution on the ongoing industrial action.

In the circular, all year one ‘B’ students for the 2021/2022 session were asked to resume 16th October, while first semester exams commences 24th to 29th October, 2022.

But that will be after just a one-week revision expected to last from 17th to 21st October, 2022. Senate will meet 30th November to consider the semester results.

For the 2020/2021 session, second semester, all old students are to arrive October 30, 2022 while lectures commences 31st October to 22nd December, 2022 (eight weeks).

The institution will observe the Christmas break from 23rd December to 2nd January only to reopen 3rd January, 2023 for one week revision before the commencement of the semester exams.

ASUU’s decision to call off the strike was sequel to the meeting between the leadership of the union and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who called several meetings to intervene between ASUU and the Nigerian government.

Femi Falana (SAN), the lead counsel for ASUU earlier explained that the strike which started on February 14 this year would be called off in a few days.

There had been several meetings between the ASUU leadership and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige who represents the Nigerian Government but after what he described as “failed negotiations,” the government sued ASUU at the National Industrial Court.

In its ruling on September 21, the National Industrial Court granted the motion on notice filed by the Nigerian government and ordered ASUU to end the strike and return to the classroom immediately.

The trial judge, Justice Polycarp Hamman, while ruling on the interlocutory injunction, restrained ASUU from continuing with the strike pending the determination of the suit filed against the union by the Nigerian government.

But ASUU, not satisfied with the ruling of the National Industrial Court, appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, where it also filed a stay of execution of the ruling of the NIC.

However, the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the lower court and ordered the striking lecturers to “immediately” call off the strike and resume work with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the Appeal Court noted that ASUU has the right to appeal the decision of the industrial court.

The Appeal Court panel agreed with the Nigerian government’s argument that ASUU cannot approach the appellate court with “dirty hands”, saying, “should the applicant fail to obey the order (of the lower court), the leave granted shall be automatically vacated

The national industrial court however, ordered the lecturers back to work.

The ruling was appealed at the appellate court in Abuja but was however not granted hearing as the judge ordered ASUU to obey first the ruling of the lower court.