University of Ilorin. UNILORIN has over the years also failed to join
National strike action by ASUU. It is saddening to note that UNILORIN
(a federal University) which is set to benefit from the one hundred
billion largesse of the FG as a result of the struggle by ASUU is
carrying on with its normal academic activity while other Schools are
on strike.
On Monday, 1st July, 2013, Nigerian Students woke up to the reality
that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was proceeding on
another industrial action to press home their demands from the
Government. Having been a witness of two previous strike actions by
ASUU (June, 2009- October, 2009) as well as December 4, 2011-February
2nd, 2012), it did not come as a surprise to someone like me but only
reminded me of the sorry situation that now engulfs the Nigerian State
in which agreements are no longer sacrosanct. The GEJ led Government
has overtime demonstrated its penchant for honouring agreement reached
with workers Union and so I felt it was just one of those low-points
in our polity. More than ninety (90) days into the strike,
unfortunately, it appears that a solution to the intractable crises is
far from near thus leaving Nigerian Students to languish at home.
Indeed, Nigerian Students have thus been left at the Mercy of GEJ and
the Dr Isa
Faggae led ASUU.
The strike action has once again forced Nigerian Students to become
idle hands. Day in day out, we read of undergraduates involved in
prostitution, armed robbery, drug-related offences and so on (needless
to say we students pay dearly whenever ASUU proceeds on strike). In as
much as I support ASUU in their demands for improved infrastructure in
our ivory towers, payment of Earned allowances, adjustment of
retirement age as well as other demands, the modus operandi and
circumstances surrounding the strike has thrown up a lot of questions
which are begging for answers.
According to the Press statement by the ASUU President, Dr Isa Faggae
at the commencement of the strike, ASUU expressed its solidarity with
lecturers at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology
(RSUST). RSUST lecturers have been at logger heads with the Governor
of Rivers state, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi over the re-appointment of
Prof B.B Fakae as Vice-Chancellor of the institution. ASUU alleged
that his appointment did not follow due process in the first instance
and that he shouldn't be considered for reappointment, while I am not
against expressing solidarity to compatriots in struggle, what amuses
me however is that ASUU is fighting on behalf of people who themselves
are not fighting. It is unfortunate and saddening that while ASUU
national body proclaimed a nationwide strike to force the FG honour
the agreement, lecturers at RSUST have been carrying on as if all is
well. They disregarded ASUU's national directive and are currently
teaching their Students. What then is the stake of ASUU regarding the
crises at RSUST? Is ASUU not crying more than the bereaved?
Another issue that calls for concern is the situation at the
University of Ilorin. UNILORIN has over the years also failed to join
National strike action by ASUU. It is saddening to note that UNILORIN
(a Federal university) which is set to benefit from the one hundred
billion largesse of the FG as a result of the struggle by ASUU is
carrying on with its normal academic activity while other schools are
on strike. Are some animals more equal than the other? ASUU UNILORIN
is not sweating yet they are set to reap from the sweat of others, I
believe this ought not to be so. Lest I forget, ASUU is also demanding
that the re-engaged UNILORIN 49 gets their salary, allowances and
entitlements for sabbatical leave and promotions yet the lecturers are
not participating in the National strike. This appears to me like the
case of ''Monkey dey work, both baboon and Monkey dey chop''.
The on-going strike actions have also raised posers about the
involvement of state Varsities in the strike action. Knowing fully
well that State Varsities are not under the control of the FG, it is
therefore worrisome that State Universities are participating in a
strike action that favours mostly Federal Universities and their
staff. State Varsities were only co-opted into the gains of the
current struggle in 2012, why then did they participate in the past
strike actions by ASUU when they were not affected? Is it a case of
solidarity? If they are solidarising with Federal workers, will
Federal workers also reciprocate when it comes to their turn?
I still foresee bigger crises in state Universities by the time
National ASUU calls off their own strike action as state lecturers
will have to go back to their state Government to get their own Earned
allowances, adjustment to retirement age and other sundry issues in
the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement. This was what happened after National
ASUU called off its own strike action in February last year only for
some state Universities to continue for as many more months. I believe
State Governments are not bound by any agreement between the FG and
workers and thus state lecturers should forthwith enter negotiations
with their respective state Government to avoid another round of
strike action in the State Universities.
It is therefore my opinion that ASUU needs to explain why its
struggles will benefit RSUST and UNILORIN yet they didn't down tools
as directed. Let me also use this opportunity to plead with the FG to
not for anything else but for the sake of its honour and giving an
Independence gift to Nigerian Students honour its agreement with not
only ASUU but other Staff Unions such as the Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics (ASUP), College of Education Academic Staff Union
(COEASU), Senior staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)
and the Non-academic staff Union (NASU). These agreements seek to
place our tertiary institutions back on the path of greatness and it
should be faithfully and judiciously implemented.
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