As the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Federal Government continue to fail in reaching a lasting resolution over the lingering ASUU strike, traders at the Ifite axis of Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s school gate, Awka, are counting their losses over low patronage caused by the unresolved face-off.
The traders who enjoy major patronage from the students, said they had to make huge deductions from their business capital to sustain themselves.
Reacting to the development, Mrs. Blessing Anachuna who sells food stuff adjacent the UNIZIK school gate, said it has been weeks of poor patronage with the strike taking tolls on her meager trade.
For Mr. Nnaemeka Ugwu, who deals on unisex wears, the delays in sorting out the lingering strike have forced him to sell below cost price just to make a decent business day.
The worry is not different with Mr. Remilekun Abiodun, a dealer in phone gadgets, and computer services, who called on both parties to be considerate not only to the students who are mostly affected by the action, but also those who depend on school activities to make a living.
Mrs. Chioma Ozoemena who trades on fresh tapioca around the Ifite School Gate area, while Mrs. Veronica Nwamili who has her table of fruits stationed approximately three meters from the gate said their businesses, have been adversely affected, prompting spoilage and leftovers, and appealed to both ASUU and the Federal Government to seek enduring solution towards resolving
the face-off.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had downed tools in November, accusing the federal government of playing hide and seek over the poor funding of Nigerian universities and non-implementation of previous agreements with the Union.
Previous meetings between the two parties had ended in deadlocks
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