By Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo fcia fipma JP
The ASUU strike has become a dreadful phenomenon in the Nigeria socio economic and political space and is already threatening the phycosocial mentality of Nigerians.
The recent media altercation between Federal Government, ASUU and entire stakeholders in Education Secttor call for serious reasoning to avoid generation curse and tainted scar on the present political Leadership in Nigeria.
The debilitating effect of the present industrial friction pervading university education is beyond personal conflict and it is not only institutional but also generational because sequential link has been broken and paved way for knowledge gap that only miracle can fill .
It is unfathomable and unimaginable to observe that in the present jet age and technological development across the world , responsible stakeholders can allow strike action to linger in tertiary institutions up to six months unresolved.
We have delved into historical ASUU strike in the past, but the Federal Government refused to learn from history because it was a reincarnation of bad political leadership in different toga of military and civilian outfits; the Babangida , Abacha military eras destroyed university education when the two administrations closed down universities for two years due to their dictatorial tendencies.
Under the present civilian administration when everybody knows that power is derived from the populace, those at the helms of affairs are now ruling Nigerians without any recourse to their feelings and cries; frustrating the majority of the hapless and helpless Nigerian students , youths parents and guardians in tertiary institutions.
It is informative to bring to the attention of Nigerians that available statistics have revealed that not less than 5 millions Nigerian youths are attending both Federal and State Universities across the country, consequently the present harrowing experience is affecting not less than twenty millions (20 millions) parents and guardians across the country; what a shame of Natiion.
What does the Federal Government stands to gain as President Buhari continue to maintain headstrong with the university lecturers by not meeting their demands based on collective bargaining agreement principle because no offer should be based on award in order to add value and respect to mutual understanding of resolving conflict of interest through standard and acceptable social dialogue principle to avoid mutual collapse.
A personal research conducted by me have revealed that of all Federal and State Universities in Nigeria as at January 2022 there were about 2.821, 930 full time and part time undergraduates as well as Post Graduates across Federal Universities.
Also, about 2. 213, 650 part time and full time undergraduates and Post Graduates students are spread across state universities in Nigeria, how will Private Universities take care of this population of students if the agenda of the Federal Government is to snuff life out of Public Universities to pave way for the Private Universities to flourish in Nigeria.
The Federal Government is not governing this country with historical hindsight because majority of people in the corridor of power today who have passed through the four walls of tertiary education will not controvert it that university education is premised on interchange of knowledge across the globe, that is where the sabbatical leave for lecturers take it pride.
To this end, for any tertiary education to receive international attention not less than 35 % Staff and students must come from foreign countries in form knowledge exchange. It is on record that most countries outside African continent pay Professors not less than US$6200 dollars per month but Professors in Nigeria receive about US$ 620. With the present situation of things in tertiary institutions in Nigeria we can not have any foreign scholars working in any Nigeria Universities and Federal Government is not bothered about terrible scenario.
All stakeholders are now ashamed of the present predicament that our tertiary institutions found itself due to misplaced priority in the scheme of things. Political Chess game for power grabbing is now at the front burner, where Federal Government give accelerated attention to INEC budget with cash backing from consolidated fund, can not Federal Government do the same thing to save Education sector from avoidable collanpse.
It is an axiomatic claim that no Nation or generation can not rise beyond its reasoning knowledge, hence, Nigeria is still in stone age era when leaders treat the led with ignominy and absolute inhuman approach below international standard. This is very unfortunate indeed.
Federal Government is not comfortable to spend money to what can add value to human dignity of life ; no education, no good health , no security , no salary, hyper inflation , Naira devalued , purchasing power of vulnerable Nigerians eroded , killings , kidnapping, joblessness, poverty index have risen beyond control , now Trillions of Naira can go for ” arrangee” fuel subsidy payment, primary school feeding project, Trader’s money and smart phone repair training that gulped Billions of Nigeria, all these claims can only happen in a sickening country like Nigeria.
This is the best time for the Federal Government and ASUU to come to terms and resolve this lingering Strike to avoid the wrath of God, the Spirit of Nigerian students, parents and guardians are not happy with the current situation of things affecting university education in Nigeria.
Government and ASUU should come to the negotiating table with open and melting minds so that this crisis can be resolved in earnest after losing several months of academic activities in our tertiary institutions.
To show the concern of parents, they have proposed to pay N10,000 per students as their contributions to augment government finances towards university education in Nigeria, this is appalling in Nigeria history, how do we rationalize this in a country where Accountant General of the Federal embezzled N109 Billions of Naira, where Paris club money running to millions of dollars are expended by Nigeria Governors Forum and self serving consultants without recourse to due process, where money budgeted for Education sector are diverted for personal gains. This is calamitous!!!
Government should be cautious not to use sledge hammer to kill an ant by bragging to proscribe ASUU, this threat can not work because International Labour Organization (ILO) convention which Nigeria was signatory ratified the freedom of workers to organize and unionise in order to have decent and charitable workplace
In the same vein, you can not treat workers as slaves or housemaids by pronouncing “no work no pay” it is never done, the present situation is as a result of leadership collapse and failure from the political Leadership. Leaders do not lead with disdain, disrespect, irresponsibility and insensitivity as shown in recent past and even presently by the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Labour and employment Dr Chris Ngige Minister of information Alhaji Lai Mohammed and conscienceless Minister of State for Labour Festus Keyamo who lost his integrity and respect because of pot of porridge. Posterity will judge!!!
What is the benefit Federal Government stands to gain by not paying the six months salaries, is it the death of Dr Christian Emedolu a philosophy lecturer at University of Port Harcourt who was hypertensive and went to coma when Buhari led Federal Government decided no to pay salaries of the striking workers
If the statement of the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, is to go by that ASUU was yet to officially get any offer from the government’s side then there is urgent need for Federal Government side to behave maturely and present something reasonable officially.
I see reason in the submission of the ASUU National President when said that “We have been negotiating with government through collective bargaining and whatever they have should not be made to us on the pages of newspapers. It should be done the way it is expected to be done. Our main problem with the government is that there is trust deficit. They will say something and will do another thing” .
“After the Memorandum of Action was signed last year with them, they were supposed to pay some money in two tranches starting from August last year, but they did not do the needful.
As for other unions suspending their actions, ASUU is not a one man show, we will look collectively at whatever is presented to us. But as at now, nothing has been officially offered,” he said. From my own point of view, this is unfathomable on the part of the Federal Government.
Federal Government should rise above big manism and master slave approach and do the needful so that both Federal Government and ASUU Leadership can eat the humble pie and allow academic activities to take off.
Federal Government should immediately deploy $334.7 millions dollars Abacha recovered loot to address ASUU agitations and university fund intervention.
ASUU should come to term in areas where there could be weight shedding in their demands so that the fight can be morally justified at the end of the day; the agitation for for better funding, good welfare package and dignity of quality education can not be compromised and can not be achieved in a day but sincerity of purpose is the contention which Federal Government must show in this circumstance so that everybody, stakeholders and students who are at the receiving end can go back to school.
Several appealed have been received from different stakeholders, for instance, the National President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, said that though the expectations of the striking workers might not be fully met, it is better to have something to hold on to than having nothing.
“I have got information about what the government is offering, regarding salaries and payment of allowances. As our children have been at home for all this while, their future is of essence. The Briggs Committee proposed higher salary, in the region of over one million naira monthly for a professor, but what is being offered is short of that. The truth is that all the sides cannot get everything they want.
“We are losing lecturers to other nations, while valuable time is wasted on strike. There will always be a mid course to take and my suggestion is that ASUU should take the offers first while other issues are being sorted out,” he counselled.
I will not join issues with National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) because the song and the drum beat has changed compare to the era of our studenthip in university, when government see students body as ideologically based with quality offer of suggestion but in recent past the leadership of NANS have been groping in the dark without consistent agitations and alternative suggestions rather it has been blow hot and cold approach without focus
I am very sure this time shall past in the life of current university and other tertiary institutions students in Nigeria.
When they will all say there was a Buhari Federal Government .
From the foregoing and flowing from various standpoint of reasons and logics the torrent of appeals should be focused on the Federal Government to show sincerity with the collective bargaining principle by appreciating leadership of ASUU as critical stakeholders in Education sector not as political opposition in their demands while ASUU should come with unbiased minds to the negotiating table so that the matter can be resolved amicably as ASUU NEC meeting possibly holds on Monday 29th August, 2022 .
No doubt Truth shall prevail over wickedness
Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo fcia fipma JP
(A Trade Unionist and industrial relations practitioner)
gbengaolowoyo3@gmail.com
08033570338