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| ASUU Strike |
Any further disruption in the academic calendar due to industrial actions by university-based unions will exacerbate the crisis in the university system. This must be prevented at all costs.
Recently, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) issued a 21-day strike notice to the Federal Government. This decision was made during ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting at the University of Ibadan from August 17 to August 18. ASUU’s national president, Emmanuel Osodeke, stated that both federal and state governments have failed to address the issues that led to ASUU’s previous strikes. This is regrettable.
Osodeke mentioned that the NEC received “alarming reports” on the unfulfilled promises made by the government during the 2022 strike. He criticized the “slow pace of intervention” by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, in resolving these issues.
He highlighted the need for the review and signing of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, the demand for substantial funding, and the necessity for an emergency revitalization fund for public universities. He also pointed out the need for the payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and third-party deductions owed to its members.
In the 2009 agreement, the Federal Government committed to providing N1.2 trillion, with N200 billion to be disbursed annually. This commitment was not met, leading to a renegotiation under President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012. President Bola Tinubu should fulfill this obligation instead of spending on luxuries.
Osodeke expressed ASUU’s grievances regarding illegal recruitments, the proliferation of public universities, and the abuse of university laws.
He demanded that universities be removed from the Treasury Single Account and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System to support university autonomy.
Previous strikes in the last four years were due to the government’s failure to implement the 2020 Memorandum of Action and to adopt the University Transparency and Accountability Solution for salaries and allowances. Other issues include the failure to release the EAA for lecturers, improve welfare, fund revitalization, and ensure autonomy.
These issues are crucial for the development of tertiary institutions, yet the Federal Government continues to show insensitivity to the plight of universities, staff, and students.
The government must secure the necessary funds by cutting luxuries and waste elsewhere. It is a matter of priorities. Education should receive the required funding.
Political leaders, often seen celebrating their children’s matriculation or graduation from overseas universities, have lost faith in Nigeria’s public education system. This reflects poor leadership in the country.
Many, including this newspaper, have long urged ASUU to adopt alternative strategies beyond the counterproductive strike option. While the union should not abandon this, their persistent claim that they are dealing with unresponsive leadership has garnered them widespread sympathy.
The government must honor its agreements, pay lecturers’ EAA, and revitalize the deteriorating tertiary education sector. According to the Centre for World University Rankings’ 2022 report, no Nigerian university is among the world’s top 1,000 universities. The University of Ibadan was ranked 1,172; the University of Nigeria placed 1,775. In contrast, Cairo University was ranked 531; the University of Johannesburg, 629.
Nigerian universities suffer from underfunding and lack adequate material and human resources. Frequent shutdowns and rushed teaching and examinations degrade standards.
ASUU’s demands include reviewing the proliferation of universities. The government and the National Assembly should halt the irrational creation of higher institutions.
The Federal Government should, therefore, fund universities appropriately and pay lecturers fair wages. It should reach an agreement with the union and faithfully implement a phased release of the revitalization fund. The government can explore funding options beyond the normal annual budgeting process, similar to how it funds security.
