VIRTUALLY grounded by the last general strike called by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest fuel price hike, tertiary institutions are back to work, following suspension of the industrial action.

Universities, polytechnics and colleges of education whose gates were shut as academic and administrative activities were suspended in compliance with NLC's stay-at-home directive, are now opened.

Students have started attending lectures and engaging in other activities at the various campuses. Tests and examinations put on hold due to the workers' strike are now being conducted.

At the University of Lagos, Akoka, academic activities have fully resumed.

Vanguard visited the institution and found that students at all levels in all the faculties are going to classrooms to receive lectures without hindrance. The campus is bubbling with action and excitement.

Speaking with Vanguard, a Level 300 Law Student, Miss Mercy Otsemaiye, expressed satisfaction that the strike was over, and things are getting normalised.

"I am happy lectures have once again resumed. As you can see, I am going to the lecture room for a course. The lecturers are also working. For now, we don't have any problem, except accommodation difficulties."

Asked about the transport situation on campus, she said the situation is not as tough as before the strike.

"Transport fares have been reduced slightly as a result of the reduction in fuel price from N40 to N34 per litre. You don't expect operators to charge the same fare when fuel price has been reduced. We had actually expected government to reverse to the old price of N26 per litre."

According to Mercy, "there is some bit of relief for students but more could still be done to alleviate our hardship."

She praised students, workers and the civil society for embarking on the strike.

"Without that action, the government was not willing to concede a kobo. At least some gains were made by the people, no matter how small."

Another student in the Faculty of Social Sciences who simply gave his name as Ayodele, said the institution is fully back to business.

"Lectures have started in my faculty. I am dashing away to attend one at 2 p.m. I don't have time for any further comment. I am almost late. Thank you and see you again," as he hurriedly waved bye and left.

At the Yaba College of Technology, students were seen going about their usual activities.

Vanguard actually saw many of the students inside lecture halls, receiving some tutorials.

On enquiry, one of them told Vanguard that they were back to school immediately the strike was called off by the NLC president, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

The situation at Adeniran Ogunssanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto-Ijanikin, was not different.

In fact, when Vanguard visited the college, semester examinations were going on.

Said a student: "we were going to begin our examinations when the general strike was called. the college management was even ready to continue with conducting the exams in spite of the strike. But Students Union leaders had to stop the exercise until end of the strike."

At Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo, anxious students are back to resume their studies. The strike came on the heels of the suspension of ASUU's six months industrial action which completely paralysed activities in the institution.

The main campus is now bustling with all types of student activities. Everybody seemed trying to settle down as quickly as possible, in order to regain lost grounds.

Most students were not ready and too busy to speak. "This is not the time to make any comment," said a final year Education student.

However when contacted on development, LASUSUG president, Adedeji Gbenga Justice, expressed mixed feelings.

"We've come back and settling down, but what we got was short of our expectation. I know NLC will concede to N34 or something around that figure. The government only dropped N1 because N35 was what was intended by Obasanjo."

Adedeji Justice told Vanguard the problems of the university system are still there to be solved, far beyond the reduction in the pump price of petrol.

"Issues such as arbitrary increase in fees, lack of hostel accommodation, overcrowding, poor sanitary and toilet facilities, insufficient classrooms and lecture theatres, ill-equipped libraries, laboratories, etc are still very much unsolved in the various universities, Adedeji Justice contended.

Vanguard learned that calm has returned to other higher institutions, including University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, University of Port Harcourt, University of Abuja and University of Calabar.

Activities in all these institutions were suspended during the period of the fuel strike.