The Federal Government has taken immediate notice of the nationwide university strike, issuing a directive to all Vice-Chancellors (VCs) to submit daily attendance and compliance reports, officials confirmed on Monday.
The move comes as academic activities across numerous public sector universities faced disruption on the first day of a strike called by a federation of university employees. The staff is demanding a harmonization of their allowances with those of government employees.
In a circular issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the VCs have been instructed to submit a comprehensive daily report. This report must confirm the presence of teaching and non-teaching staff, detail the status of academic activities, and affirm the university’s operational status.
The directive emphasizes that the reports must be signed by the VCs themselves, ensuring top-level accountability. The government has stated that the purpose is to maintain a clear and real-time picture of the strike’s impact on the higher education sector.
“The reports are essential for monitoring the situation and ensuring that the academic progress of students is safeguarded to the greatest possible extent,” a senior official from the education ministry stated on condition of anonymity.
The striking employees, including administrative and support staff, have vowed to continue their protest until their demands for increased allowances are met. They argue that the current disparity is unfair and fails to keep pace with inflation.
The government’s directive for daily reporting is seen as a significant step to assert oversight and maintain pressure on university administrations to resolve the deadlock. It also signals a proactive approach to managing the crisis that threatens to paralyze the academic calendar for thousands of students across the country.
Stakeholders are now awaiting the VCs’ initial reports and the government’s subsequent response, which will likely determine the next phase of this developing situation.
