UNIUYO’s management prays for God’s intervention over varsity unions strike

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Management of the University of Uyo, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), resorted to prayers to seek God’s intervention over the lingering industrial action.

Aside ASUU’s nationwide strike, two other unions in the university system, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have also joined in the strike, grounding every form of activity in federal tertiary institutions nationwide.

The management of the university prayed for God’s intervention during its annual Covenant Service held at Onyema Ugochukwu auditorium, town campus of the University in Uyo.

The management and staff of the institution prayed to God to touch the hearts of the Federal Government so that the issues that led to the strike would be sorted out for the sake of the educational system in Nigeria and the strike was called off.

Speaking, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo described the theme of the Covenant Service, “Understanding the Times” as apt.

Prof Ndaeyo said the challenges facing the educational system of the country among others showed that there was a need for people to understand the times they were in so as to know what to do.

According to him, that renewal of the covenant which the University had with God since 2002 was in recognition of what He has done for the institution and what He is about to do.

He expressed hope that everything would turn around for good after the service and thanked all the staff members for turning up for the event despite the strike.

Speaking on the theme of the event, the guest speaker, Rev. Dr Godwin Amawo, said every labourer was worth his wages.

Amawo who said the Bible frowned against labourers being owed, advised employers of labour to pay their employees on time.

“I pray that God to speak to Nigerians who have domestic servants working for them or the government not to deny the workers their wages,” he said.

Also speaking, the Registrar, Mr Aniediabasi Udofia said the essence of renewal of covenant was to serve God diligently in their offices, homes and society and to trust Him forever.

“Considering the times that we are in globally, we have heard of war, killings banditry and so many other vices in the society, as people of God what should we do in times like these?

We have to understand that things are not where and how they used to be and then we have to run back to God who is our refuge and help in ages past,” Udofia said.

The strike action followed the alleged refusal of the Federal government to honour the renegotiated 2009 agreement as well as deploy the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in the institutions.