How ASUU strike is killing campus businesses

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently commenced a 4-week nationwide strike.

National President of the union, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said the strike which will be comprehensive and total would last for an initial period of four weeks in the hopes of getting the  Federal Government to commit to agreements earlier reached.

The strike, although seems short, but considering previous history, could be extended for months, a reality we have experienced over and over again. The industrial action carried out by the lecturers usually results in multiple consequences – not only academic but also economic, which affects businesses operated on the campuses which always relies on the student economy to survive.

Eunice Adebayo, a tailor who owns the TeeWhy Stitches on the campus of the University of Ibadan said that though her customers are open to her sending their orders through readily available logistic workers, it comes with its own challenges.

“I get a lot of patronage from my fellow students when they are on campus, but when they return back to their different homes, it is only normal for them to patronise tailors in their locality. Only a few loyal customers will have the patience to wait till they get back to you when school resumes. And sometimes when they factor in the logistics cost of sending the fabric to me and receiving the finished dress, they are sometimes discouraged,” Adebayo said.