The branch’s chairman, Dr. Samuel Alu, spoke to reporters on Friday in Keffi and called the management’s directive foolish and a betrayal.
He swore that the university’s instructors wouldn’t be coerced into going back to their classrooms against their will.
“The union is very much familiar with threats, blackmail and propaganda issued by certain quarters in respect to the struggle.
“Needless to say that we are conversant with and full of expectation of the antics to sabotage our struggle and are well prepared for it.
“For the avoidance of doubt, ASUU is one and the same. As such, ASUU at NSUK cannot be seen to operate in isolation of other ASUU branches.
“It is operating in full compliance with directives of the national secretariat,’’ said.
Alu was shocked that the university’s administration issued the order knowing full well that ASUU had filed an appeal against the National Industrial Court’s order requesting that its members return to the lecture halls.
“In view of the aforementioned, forcing university lecturers to go back to class amounts to illegality and a blatant disregard for the rule of law which could be interpreted as a contempt of court.
“Reopening the university with ASUU still on strike means that the vice-chancellor and his lieutenants are the ones to teach the students,’’ Alu stressed.
He thanked parents and children for their patience and fortitude, saying that they had made sacrifices for the future and to prevent the school system from collapsing completely.
“As far as NSUK branch of ASUU is concerned, we are in a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike.
“I am reiterating here that ASUU NSUK branch will remain on strike until the national body suspends the strike when all demands of ASUU have been met by the Federal Government,’’ Alu said.
Mr. Bala Ahmed, the university’s registrar, asked students to return to class in a statement.
ASUU has been on strike since February 14 in protest of the Federal Government’s failure to uphold 2009 agreements.
The accords dealt with the release of revitalization money for universities, the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, and the distribution of earned academic allowances for teachers.
It also demands that lecturers not be paid by the Federal government via the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System in the same manner as the rest of its staff (IPPIS).
The union is requesting that the government pay its members through the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) platform, which was created by the universities themselves, rather than the IPPIS
