By: Abiodun Awujoola
The ongoing industrial action by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), particularly involving the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has severely disrupted both academic and social life across Nigerian universities. At the University of Ibadan, the consequences have been especially pronounced, affecting students’ living conditions, access to essential services, and overall well-being.
Beyond the immediate disruption, the strike has once again highlighted a reality often overlooked within Nigerian universities. That is, institutions do not run on lecturers alone. Behind every functioning campus is a network of non-teaching staff whose contributions sustain daily life for thousands of students.
The strike has revealed a critical truth: institutional stability relies on the seamless functioning of all its components. When one segment breaks down, the entire system is destabilized, leaving students to bear the consequences.
One of the most immediate and visible challenges during the strike has been the disruption of water supply in major student hostels such as Zik Hall, Mellanby Hall, Bello Hall, and Independence Hall. For several days, students reportedly struggled to access water for basic domestic and sanitary needs. Reports even indicated that some students had to attend lectures without bathing for days, a situation that reflected the severity of the crisis. The lack of water also compromised sanitation within the hostels, increasing concerns about hygiene and students’ welfare.
Electricity supply has also remained a major concern during the strike period. With unreliable power supply affecting many parts of the university, students have often been left without light, making it difficult to study effectively, preserve food, and charge electronic devices. Although electricity has gradually been restored in parts of campus following student protests and engagements with university authorities, the ongoing strike has continued to expose how fragile campus living conditions can become when support systems are disrupted.
Another pressing concern during the strike has been the sharp rise in the price of kerosene, which remains a primary cooking fuel for many students due to university regulations that make stove usage the only approved cooking method in campus halls. Even before the industrial action, the cost of kerosene had already placed significant financial pressure on students, with prices reported to have risen to as high as ₦3,000 per litre. This existing burden, combined with the effects of the ongoing strike, has further intensified the difficulty of daily living for students on campus.
Healthcare services have not been spared from the effects of the disruption. Reports indicated reduced operations at the university health centre, commonly known as Jaja Clinic, during the strike period, forcing some students to seek medical attention outside campus at additional cost and inconvenience.
Notably, on May 5, students staged protests demanding improved electricity supply and better living conditions within the university community. While some concerns have received partial attention, particularly with the gradual restoration of electricity supply on campus, many students continue to express concerns over welfare conditions and the broader impact of institutional disruptions on campus life.
The ongoing strike continues to expose the vulnerability of students to systemic disruptions. From inadequate water and power supply to escalating living costs and limited healthcare access, daily life has become increasingly difficult for many students during the period.
An injury to education is ultimately an injury to the future; when students are compelled to focus on survival rather than learning, the system has already failed them.
The situation has also sparked broader conversations about the role of non-teaching staff within Nigerian universities. Recent events at the University of Ibadan have demonstrated that the absence of non-academic workers can significantly affect students’ welfare and the overall functioning of the institution.
The events surrounding the strike serve as a reminder that universities are ecosystems sustained by both academic and non-academic labour. When either side is disrupted, students inevitably feel the consequences first.
At the end the true cost of the strike is not measured in lost academic days, but in the hardship endured by students striving to balance survival with education.
