…say FG, unions’ uncompromising stance worrisome
FOLASHADE SIYANBOLA
It is no longer news that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is currently on strike over failure by the Federal Government to honour the various agreements reached with the union many years ago.
The current strike, which has been on for more than 62 days now, started on February 14 and has since paralysed activities in universities across the nation.
The situation has even been worsened with the joining of the strike in the nation’s universities by the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities since April 14 and the resultant total shut down of all the nation’s universities.
ASUU and JAC on Sunday accused the Federal Government of failing to reach a strong agreement with them that can lead to calling off the ongoing prolonged strike.
The unions embarked on the current strike actions while demanding improved welfare packages, better working conditions and implementation of various labour agreements signed with the Federal Government between 2009 and 2020.
ASUU through its President, Emmanuel Osodeke, described Ngige’s claim after the last meeting that the unions would call off the ongoing strike this week as a political statement.
Osodeke had said last month that Nigerians should hold the government accountable for the ongoing strike, explaining that it did everything possible to avert the situation to no avail, adding that government’s nonchalant attitude to issues led to the union’s action.
Osodeke alleged that the ministers of education, labour and finance and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, flouted President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives to engage ASUU in a meeting to find immediate solution to the lingering crisis.
He explained that during a visit by the Sultan of Sokoto, some weeks ago, the President directed the ministers and Gambari to immediately hold a meeting with ASUU for a quick resolution of the ongoing strike, alleging that they instead ignored him.
He said only the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, had been attending meetings with the union since the strike started.
According to him, “Outside the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), who has attended virtually all our meetings, not a single one of them has been there, even the Minister of Labour himself.
“We have met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, about three times. We have met with the President of the Senate three times, we have met with the Sultan of Sokoto; we have met with Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State. What else do you want us to do? What else do Nigerians want us to do?” he asked.
“The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the one keeping Nigerian students at home and Nigerians must rise to challenge this government for what they are doing,” the ASUU president added.
Also following the ASUU strike, members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) under the umbrella of JAC have also embarked on a two-week warning strike.
According to both unions, Federal Government had deliberately refused to either reply to their letters or invite them for dialogue.
The students themselves have since embarked on protests across the country to compel ASUU, JAC and the Federal Government to find a common ground towards a quick resolution of the lingering standoff between them and reopen the nation’s universities for academic activities.
However, speaking with First News correspondent, university students across the nation expressed concern over the Federal Government and the union’s attitude to the strike, which they said has kept them at home for weeks with the possibility of the lecturers’ action rolling over to more months if the Federal Government fails to meet their demands.
Aroworowon AbdulAkeem, student of a Federal University, expressed disappointment with the attitude of both ASUU and the Federal Government.
He said there was the need to permanently stop the issue of strike in Nigerian public educational institutions, saying, ”Education shouldn’t be what we beg for. Rather, we should be encouraged and motivated to be educated. We are tired of staying at home, four years is now turning to six years.”
For Latifah Olaonipekun, it is sad that the issue of strike still occurs in Nigerian university system.
“I remember when my father wanted me to go to Babcock University but I insisted on University of Benin because I was of the belief that private school students are not brilliant. But now, see what I am going through,” she lamented.
She explained that other students that got admitted to private universities the same time she got into the public university will definitely graduate before her.
Salaudeen Majekodunmi of the University of Port Harcourt urged government to see to ASUU demands “because this is the only way students can go back to school as well as have a conducive environment.”
For him, ASUU has a genuine reason to be on strike.
“I think we should be pleading with the government to answer them so that they can get back to work and they’ll end the strike,” he said.
Cyracus Nnaji, a new student at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said it is obvious the government and the unions don’t have the interest of the students at heart.
“I am highly disappointed in our education system. I used 2020 JAMB to gain admission and up till now I have not written my first semester examination,” he said.
Steve Kajogbola, in his response, said Nigerian students will need to pray very hard in order for the issue to be resolved “because there’s actually nothing that we can really do against the government or the unions. We just sit back, pray and hope that miracles happen, and that hardly happens in a country like Nigeria.”
Femi Olateni told First News that all what the students want is to go back to class, saying, “We are tired of this incessant strikes, all we are saying is we are tired and both parties concerned should end the strike.”
Eluemelem Great Ifeanyi was of the opinion that all presidential candidates in the incoming election should speak for the students if they really care about the education system.
“We want them to consider resolving Federal Government and ASUU issue once and for all because we want these incessant strikes to stop,” he said.
To Ayoola Akande, ASUU strikes has become part of Nigeria’s education system “and how long will this continue. This is frustrating, government help Nigeria students.
“Can’t the Senate or House of Representatives invite ASUU or deliberate with them about the strike?” he asked.
They are doing this because they don’t have children in the universities here; that is why they are playing with our future. I’ve been in year one for the past two years now, June is the middle of the year and ASUU still has the intention to add more months to the strike
“All we want is just a solution and we will be in class again.”
Adedamola Odukoya in his response, wondered what kind of a nation is comfortable with keeping her children at home with silence from all concerned parties.
“This is unacceptable and we cannot continue to be kept at home. We want to go back to school, ASUU strike must end, government should do something fast,” he added.
But some other students are of different opinion on the issue. They are accusing ASUU of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian students.
Nafisat Bello said the ASUU strike had been lingering because the country’s leaders and the lecturers have no children in Nigerian universities.
She said, “To me they are doing this because they don’t have children in the universities here; that is why they are playing with our future. I’ve been in year one for the past two years now, June is the middle of the year and ASUU still has the intention to add more months to the strike.”
“I am tired of the school system, how I wish I can go to a private university.”
Oboma Ofem, however pleaded with ASUU to consider the plight of the students.
“ASUU, give us our fundamental right. We don’t want to engage in criminality and indulge in rituals. We want to go back to school. Save our future,” he added.