Tuesday 8 October 2013

ASUU strike clocks 100 days as FG, Union play ‘no retreat, no surrender’ game

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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.”

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