In the past two months, university teachers have been on strike.
There is no sign of when the action will end, despite the Federal
Government’s release of N100 billion for renovation of universities’
infrastructure and N30 billion for the payment of earned allowances. The
money, the lecturers say, does not meet their demands. Parents and
students are also urging the Federal Government to honour the agreement
in full.
The
Federal Government may consider the N100 billion it has released out of
the N500 billion for infrastructural projects in 61 universities a big
deal but university teachers think otherwise.
Despite
pressure from various quarters that it should manage what the
government has offered and end its 74-day old strike, the Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU) is not moved.
Members
of the union in the public universities nationwide are insisting that
the Federal Government must honour the agreement by providing the funds
according to the timetable and conditions both parties set.
Ironically,
many parents and students seem to be behind ASUU. They are urging the
union to ensure they get all that was agreed upon so that there would
not be another strike soon.
Journey to 2009
ASUU/FGN Agreement
The
2009 agreement was a product of negotiations with successive
administrations, beginning in 1992 with that of former military
president Gen Ibrahim Babangida. There were also re-negotiations in 1999
(under Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar); and 1999/2001 (under former President
Olusegun Obasanjo), until the agreement was signed in 2009 (under the
late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua).
ASUU
President Dr Nasir Fagge said through the agreement, the union seeks to
make universities competitive by ensuring that conditions of service
are favourable to academic staff so as to reverse brain drain; provide
adequate funding to universities; and ensure their autonomy and academic
freedom.
But, the pact’s implementation has over the years pitched ASUU against the government.
Two
outstanding issues define the ongoing strike: the release of funds
accruing up to N500 billion to improve facilities in 61 public
universities (27 federal and 34 state); and the non-payment of earned
allowances put at N92 billion.
In
response to ASUU demands, the government set up a committee headed by
Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, to implement the recommendations of
the committee on Needs Assessment of Public Universities which
submitted its report to the National Economic Council (NEC) last
November.
The
11-man committee chaired by Prof Mahmood Yakubu, former Executive
Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), in its report,
recommended that “Government shall consider the provision of quality
infrastructure for teaching and learning in all universities as a
national emergency.” The panel noted that the classrooms, laboratories
and hostels of the 61 universities had decayed.
The
government released N100 billion for this purpose on August 21, almost
two months after the commencement of the strike, to cover construction
of classrooms, laboratories and hostels.
It also announced the release of N30 billion for the earned allowances.
However, the union is insisting on the full amounts stated in the agreement before calling off the strike.
Suswam has condemned the union‘s stand, especially as the government has released of some funds to meet part of the demands.
“There
is nothing on the list of their demands that the government has not
touched,” Suswam said when he hosted the National Union of Benue State
Students last week.
Why ASUU is not impressed
Some
lecturers revealed that accepting what the government was offering
would only be postponing the evil day because the amount would continue
to mount.
Chairman,
ASUU, Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Dr Nsing Ogar
accused the government of insincerity. He said the N100 billion the
government is paying now should have been released in April last year –
with an additional N400 billion this year. He said by 2015 the amount
released should be N1.3 trillion.
He
said: “Last year, there was an agreement between the government and
ASUU that N100 billion would be injected into the university system to
upgrade facilities. It was supposed to be released immediately. The
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in January 2012 and by
April that sum of money was supposed to have been released. Also in that
MoU there was an agreement that in 2013 another N400 billion would be
released. Then in 2014 another N400 billion. Then in 2015 another N400
billion. That makes N1.3 trillion to upgrade facilities in the
university system. We had tried to talk with government to ensure that
these amount were released, they did not accept and that is why we are
on strike. And if in 2013 they are releasing N100 billion, there is a
shortfall of N400 billion, they have not told us, what next would happen
in 2014 and 2015.”
On
his part, Dr. Abdulkadir Mohammed, the branch ASUU chairman, Kano
University of Science and Technology, Wudil, said members were irked
that the N100 billion was recycled from the universities’ funds.
He
said: “Even the N100 billion that the government is talking about,
there is a recommendation of the Technical Committee on how the N100
billion should be disbursed, that has been breached by government.
Secondly, Nigerians should know the source of the N100 billion because
our MoU with the government clearly stated that this money should be
sourced outside state fund; that government should scout for the N1.3
trillion from other sources outside the Tertiary Education Trust Fund
but we realised that the government is trying to do now is to go and
block all the money in the state fund, mop it up and channel it into
financing the recommendation of the need assessment and that is also not
acceptable.
“The
union would not accept the effort by the government to mop the money
belonging to universities within the Education sector for this purpose.
The agreement is that they should scout for money elsewhere to finance
this agreement and therefore if they fail to do that, this crisis will
not abate.”
Dr
David Nanson Jangkam, Chairman of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) ASUU
Chapter, said the N30 billion the government paid as earned allowances
was just a third of the debt it owes the lecturers.
“Let
me tell you the level of insincerity of the government, the earned
allowance, they are owing us is N92 billion, out of which the government
has offered N30 billion, this is one-third of what they are owing us.
Regarding the so called N100 billion they claimed to have approved for
need assessment, they are taking that fund from the TETFund, which means
they are robbing the university to pay the university,” he said.
Parents support ASUU’s struggle
Contrary
to expectations, many parents urged ASUU to ensure the government
fulfils its promise this time so that there would be no strikes in
future resulting from the present issues.
Mr.
Lawal Morakinyo, a business man whose son attends the University of
Ibadan (UI), said the N100 billon does not even scratch the surface of
the problem.
“The
N100 billion does not solve the problem because the school laboratories
and the other situation have been on ground for many years and if they
(ASUU) had been persistent in the sight of the government it wouldn’t be
as grave as this. The money they are putting on ground is not an issue;
we have seen cases like this. The money the government is giving is
just a waiver – that I am giving you this money to keep your mouth shut
and stop your ASUU strike,” he said.
Another
parent, Mr Fidelis Inde, who resides in Calabar, the Cross River State
Capital, said he was not happy his children are at home. yet, he
supports the strike because he believes the government can indeed meet
ASUU’s demands.
“Although
our children staying at home is not in the best interest of anybody,
but I believe the right thing should to be done. If there was an
agreement, then that agreement should be honoured. I believe it is high
time we stopped cutting corners in doing things. It would not turn out
well for us in the long run, if we continue like that. What the people
have demanded is not impossible to achieve. You just don’t dangle N100
billion before ASUU when you know that was not the initial agreement. It
is important for ASUU not to set a bad precedent and ensure the
agreement is honoured to the letter. Government, I believe can meet
ASUU’s demands if it is sincere.”
A
trader in Akure the Ondo State Capital, Mrs Margaret Okeke, who has two
children in the Adekunle Ajasin University at Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in
Ondo State, recalled that the government and ASUU face off had been
rocking the education sector since the late President Yar’Adua
administration, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to find a lasting
solution to the problem.
She urged the lecturers to shun appeals to resume when their demands have not been met.
“Urging
University lecturers to resume work is just like suspension of a battle
that must be fought. The issue of the strike had been lingering on for
so long in the higher institution and this is because the government has
failed to implement the 2009 agreement it has with the workers.
“If
the ASUU should call off the strike, it will someday return to the
battle field with the government since its demands have not been met. I
think the government should fulfil its own part of the agreement. The
PDP-led government spent more money on its convention, President’s
wife’s women’s rally. It can easily dash out billions of naira to some
dubious politicians in order to secure or remain in power. We can see
and hear how they share the “National Cake” with their families and
friends leaving us to grow in abject poverty.”
Pastor Andrew Ayinloge, who stays in Akure, urged the government to curb waste elsewhere and meet the union’s demands.
He
said: “I will advise ASUU to go on with the strike until the government
is ready to fulfil the agreement because if they should call off the
strike and its demands are not met, they will one day go back to the
strike.
“Nigeria
is rich enough to pay the workers. Let the government reduce the
allowances of senators, governors, commissioners, House of
Representatives and State Assemblies members if that will bring the
solution to end the issue of strike in Nigeria.”
Mr Remi Agunbiade, another parent agrees Nigeria is rich enough.
He
said: “If you look at the history of ASUU problem or history of
education in Nigeria these are all the tricks government is using, ASUU
demands for something, they will give them part of it and ask them to go
back so it is still better for government to do the right thing at the
right time. N100 billion is nothing to write home about when you
consider the decay in infrastructure in our system; there is nothing
N100 billion can do.
“Mere
organising PDP convention they will spend more than 100 billion so let
the government do the right thing and solve the problem
once-and-for-all, and I as a person I cannot blame government and I
cannot blame ASUU. Why I cannot blame government is that most of their
children are in private schools or overseas. So the children of the poor
masses are in government schools. So the government officials don’t
feel the pain.”
A
Lagos-based parent, Mr Abiodun Phillips, said he does not believe that
the government has even released the N100 billion. “They are saying that
they have approved the money but I don’t believe. That was how they
signed an agreement in 2009 and they didn’t keep to it,” he said.
Some parents are appealing to ASUU to suspend the strike for the students’ sake.
Abraham Dalyop, a resident of Jos, Plateau State, said ASUU should give the government a chance.
“Since
the government and ASUU are discussing how to solve the issues, ASUU
can suspend the strike and continue with negotiation. There is no point
insisting on contnuing the strike; it is not healthy for our children,”
he said.
Another
parent, Obinna Nwosu, who resides in Nnewi, described the situation as
preposterous. His three children at home when they should be busy with
their academic work. He appealed to ASUU to consider going back to their
duty posts and urged the government to ensure that the agreement is
kept.
Students for and against
Some students support the strike, while others are against it.
Julius
Ona a 300-level undergraduate of English University of Ibadan said he
is for the strike but does not believe government will yield ground.
“Though
I see ASUU demands as genuine, but is it not possible to appeal to ASUU
to accept the N100 billion now and continue negotiation later? Nobody
in this country should pretend not to know government attitude to public
education. ASUU demands had been for long and if government still turns
a deaf ear, why should they believe government would answer now?”
The
President of National Association of Ondo State Students, Comrade
Afolayan Awoloda advised the lecturers to remain on strike until the
government fulfil its promise.
He
noted that the government was not blindfolded before signing the
agreement in 2009, stressing that President Jonathan’s action has dealt a
big blow to education at the international level.
Awodola
said: “Mr president should prove to Nigerians that he is worthy of
leading us and stop embarrassing the nation. I still maintain that if
there has been an agreement since 2009 and there has not been any
modality on ground to fulfil the sealed agreement.
I
think ASUU, should remain on strike till the government fulfill
diligently the content of the agreement since the government was not
under duress or blindfolded when it signed the agreement.
But,
the National Association of Nigerian Student’s (NAN’s) representative
in Akure, Gbenga Ayenuro appealed to the lecturers to resume in order to
save the future of Nigerian students. The strike, he said, had rendered
the students idle at home, warning that such act is dangerous to the
country’s future.
“NANS
appeals to both ASUU and Federal Government to work towards resolving
the present ASUU strike that has kept Nigerian students at home for over
two months.
“We
are not happy with the way both parties are playing with the life and
future of innocent Nigerian students. They have rendered us useless
being at home, caused us hardship to survive and our parents to cater
for us and caused more havoc by exposing Nigerian Students to social
vices most especially our ladies.
“At
this point, we urge ASUU to shift ground for the sake of Nigerian
Students and return to the classroom while deliberation continues on the
earned allowance claims and we also appeal to the government to
reconsider ASUU earned allowance claims.”
A
student of UNIJOS, Monday Philemon said: “We know our lecturers are
fighting a genuine cause but they should consider that they will ruin
the future of students if the strike lasts longer than this. These
lectures are holders of master and PhD certificates, most of them are
professors, so they dot care much about going to school again but we are
in school and we also need to acquire the certificates they have
acquired, they should not frustrate us please, the government has done
enough.”
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