From: Daily Post
ASUU Strike Update - On July 1, 2013, when Nigerian Federal and state universities’
lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike, many had thought that it was
one of those industrial actions that would be called off within few
days or weeks, the worst case, but here we are today. It’s still unclear
how far the nation will go in this absence of illumination in the
nation’s educational sector, and it’s most unclear whether the end of
the journey is anything to speculate.
Today, the aggrieved lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff
Union of Universities, ASUU, have indeed made real the threat that
unless their demands were met, they would abide by the “indefinite” tag
of the strike. As the nation has witnessed, the ongoing sit-at-home
order, is unequivocally an indefinite one. Now that the strike has
clocked 100th day since its commencement, DailyPost deems it necessary
to look at the genesis, the drawbacks, progress, and the continuous
disagreement experienced so far in the unending dialogue which has
ultimately refused to be the answer.
The issue
The Union has over the years complained of neglect of the university
system. It regularly cites dearth of infrastructure, little or no
funding for research, unconducive learning environment, overbearing
influence of federal and state governments in university management,
inadequate facilities and learning materials, underpayment of lecturers,
among other myriad of problems as challenges facing the higher
institutions.
Then in 2009, under the Umaru Musa Yar’adua administration, the union
and the government of the day reached an agreement,which both parties
agreed would not only address already identified critical issues, but
would also build confidence in all stakeholders – government, the
universities, their management and staff, parents, students, and
Nigerians in general – if implemented to the latter.
However, four years down the lane, the union in protest of what it
described as “non-chalant posture” of the present administration, issued
an ultimatum, within which it expects the government to speedily act or
accept the aftermath of a docile response to its demand.
And so, on July 1, true to its earlier warning, ASUU invoke a no-work
order on its members nationwide. The action is still ongoing.
Government position, efforts
Thinking it was perhaps the ‘usual’ attention-seeking strikes, the
President Goodluck Jonathan administration, in the first week of the
strike, gave what seemed like an unserious reaction to the action.
The then Minister of Education, Prof. Rukayyatu Rufa’i, had called on
the striking lecturers to go back to class, while discussions continue.
ASUU would have none of such executive directive, insisting that this
time around, empty promises cannot perform a miracle or magic.
The following days saw both parties exchanging banters, the type
Nigerians are treated to on a daily basis by rival political parties.
Sensing the union under Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, would not cave in to any
form of pressure, the federal government, acting through the Governor
Gabriel Suswam-led committee, released N100bn for infrastructure
development in the universities and another N30bn for the teachers’
earned allowances. This was after four weeks of several meetings.
But the leaders of ASUU turned down the offer, saying government is yet to appreciate the enormity of its requests.
Appeals by the government for a mutual understanding fell on deaf
ears of an apparent resolute union which has consistently argued that
the country was rich enough to fulfill what is now known as the ’2009
agreement.’
Eight weeks into the strike, President Jonathan, unsatisfied with the
Suswan committee job, asked his Deputy, Namadi Sambo to take over
negotiations.
His headship of government’s team has not performed any better. This
was confirmed by Fagged himself, who after a meeting with Sambo
committee said, “They (government) have not brought anything new to the
table”.
Although the Ministry of Education now has Rivers state born Nyeson Wike as its head, the situation remains deadlocked.
Thirteen weeks on, the strike has turned out to fit the title of an
old Hollywood blockbuster, “No retreat, no surrender.” With speculations
of FG not being able to meet its financial obligations to states,
ministries and agencies, the impasse may drag on for a longer period to
the detriment of the education system and the future of Nigerian
students.
No political undertone
For failing to successfully convince the union, the government and
some national leaders say the prolonged strike is partially political.
ASUU strongly denies this.
One of its latest response to the statement, was made via the
chairman of ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University chapter, Prof. Ade Akinola,
who says there is no political coloration in their demand.
He stated that on the contrary, the union’s major concern is to save the universities from dying.
“ASUU will continue to call on Nigerians to help beg the Federal
Government to be patriotic and see reason in not allowing public
tertiary education to die.
“The FG should honour the agreement it entered and stop playing the sentiment game, he advised.
On Monday, ASUU National Strike Coordinating Committee, also
dismissed the October 1 broadcast of the President in which he referred
to the strike as politically motivated.
A statement by the committee read, “The primary goal of our union is
to work for the repositioning of the Nigerian university system for
global competition in terms of comparable facilities and staff quality.
This goal we have pursued with diligence as a trade union.
“The Umaru Yar’Adua/Goodluck Jonathan government did not accuse ASUU
of playing politics all through the three years (2006-2009) negotiations
that produced the 2009 agreement.
“As Vice-President, Jonathan made significant input into the
negotiation process. In 2012, when the MoU was signed despite doubts
about government’s sincerity, President Jonathan did not impute
political motives. Even the landmark report of the Committee on the
Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities was not interpreted as
political.
“Why is it now when ASUU insists that the Federal Government should
deliver on what it undertook to do under the 2009 agreement, the 2012
MoU and the 2012 Needs Assessment Report that the union is being accused
of embarking on a political strike?
“ASUU members, and, indeed, progressive Nigerians, know too well that
the accusation of politicization of strike is a cheap blackmail. If
anything, it is the Federal Government that is trying to whip up
political sentiments over matters that are straightforward and clear to
all and sundry.”
More threats;
Even as the government and well meaning individuals continue to
appeal to ASUU on the need to shift ground and call off its prolonged
strike, different Association bodies have equally issued some threats of
embarking on a similar action either to push for their own demands or
in solidarity with ASUU.
NUPENG in its concern for the plights of Nigerian students has warned
that if the government fails to implement to the fullest the demands of
the striking and aggrieved lecturers, it will shutdown the nation oil
distribution. Relatively, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic has on
Monday commenced its own protest; something similar to the demands of
the University lecturers.
ASUP Zonal Coordinator, South-West zone, Mr. Dosunmu Babatunde, told
newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, that the technological and
overall development of the country is only achievable through functional
polytechnic education.
He lamented the wrong body language of federal and state governments
towards polytechnic education, warning that the action may drag for a
long time, if the Union’s demands were not met.
Speaking further, the coordinator expressed ASUP’s concern over the slow rate of development in some institutions.
“We are worried by the state of polytechnic education in the country,
especially those owned by the states,” he said, listing out states such
as Kwara, Ondo and Ogun.
Other grievances, according to him, are “refusal of most state
governments to implement the approved new salary scale for polytechnic
teachers and the 65 years retirement age.”
“Imposition of professors from outside the polytechnic sector as
rectors and the need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of
Nigerian Polytechnics so as not to allow the sector to collapse
totally.”
The imperative question is whether there is hope at all or whether
the students have got some roles to play in order to cut down the
excesses of either the Federal government or ASUU. Your guess is as good
as ours on this website.
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