Students hold a rally in support of asuu strike
One hundred days after members of the
Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on
a nationwide strike, the end is not in sight yet,
CHARLES ABAH writes
In countries like South Korea, the first 100 days of a
child is very symbolic. Within this period, the life of
the child and that of his parents are often celebrated.
In keeping with the tradition of the people, prayers
and various types of gifts are offered to the gods
during parties organised to mark the event. This is
accompanied with much feasting in the child’s home.
The purpose of such ritual is to increase the newborn
baby’s chances of becoming successful on earth.
Globally, it is also common among political appointees
or government officials to celebrate their first 100
days in office. For instance, President Barack Obama
of the United States celebrated his first 100 days in
office with pomp and ceremony. The period in the US
serves as a benchmark to measure the early success
(or otherwise) of president.
In Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan and many
state governors also celebrated their first 100 days in
office. Of course, the celebrations took place with
much fanfare. Advertorials were placed in the
newspapers and parties were held in government
houses to mark the achievements of the political
office-holders during their first 100 days in office.
Unfortunately, there are no celebrations today as
Nigerians mark the symbolic first 100 days that
lecturers in the country’s public universities embarked
on industrial action.
The lecturers, who commenced the strike on July 1,
are protesting the non-implementation of an
agreement they signed with the Federal Government in
2009, as well as the non-payment of their earned
allowances.
Many people are compelled to ask what the country,
particularly the education sector, has achieved in the
first 100 days of the ASUU strike. Since the strike is
still in progress, analysts conclude that nothing
significant has been achieved. In their thinking, several
dialogues and meetings targeted at resolving the crisis
have failed to yield positive results. Therefore, there is
really no cause for celebration.
A lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof.
Ademola Onifade, notes that contrary to expectation,
the current struggle by ASUU has achieved nothing for
the lecturers and public universities.
He says, “In politics and governance, politicians
celebrate the first 100 days on the positive side. But
here we are, nothing has been accomplished in this
struggle. I suspect that the game plan of the Federal
Government is to wear us out. The authorities do not
want to address our requests. However, if their target
is just to wear us out, they will not succeed.”
But judging by recent statements made by the
representatives of the government, there is an
indication that the crisis will be resolved. Indeed,
President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo
have promised that the crisis would be over soon.
Earlier, the FG, acting through the Governor Gabriel
Suswam-led committee, had released N100bn for
infrastructure development in the universities and
another N30bn for the teachers’ earned allowances.
But the leaders of ASUU dismissed the sum as a token,
saying it was comparable to a drop in the ocean of
their requests.
While both parties continue to seek the best way to
settle their differences, the mood in many homes and
in the public universities affected by the strike remains
sober. Academic activities in these institutions are still
suspended. The students and their parents are forced
to deal with the frustration and feeling of hopelessness
arising from the strike, just as the striking lecturers,
who claim that they have not had any meaningful
dialogue with the FG, continue to despair.
The lecturers have not been paid their salaries for the
past two months. But this seems to be the least of their
worries. The Chairman of ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo
University chapter, Prof. Ade Akinola, who says there is
no political colouration in their demand, notes that
the body’s major concern is to save the universities
from dying.
He says, “ASUU will continue to call on Nigerians to
help beg the Federal Government to be patriotic and
see reason in not allowing public tertiary education to
die. The FG should honour the agreement mutually
entered into in 2009 and further reinforced by the
Memorandum of Understanding of February 24, 2012.
It was in general to save the public universities from
total collapse.”
Also, a communications specialist, Mr. Muyiwa Akin,
thinks this is not the right time for ASUU and the
government to trade blame. He says that both parties
should find a mid way to resolve the crisis.
“All the parties should realise that they should protect
the interest of the students. In my thinking, sincerity is
lacking in this matter. The signing of the agreement
took place some years ago and if perchance, the FG is
not able to meet its own side of the deal, it should be
open about that.
“Again, the government should show sincerity and
commitment in funding education and keeping to
agreements, just as ASUU members, who are seeking
the improvement of the quality of education, should
consider the fate of the students. For, without the
students, there will be no ASUU and without ASUU,
there will be no students,” he says.
Meanwhile, ASUU insists that the 100-day-old strike
has no political colouration.
In a statement by its National Strike Coordinating
Committee, obtained on Monday, the union dismissed
the October 1 broadcast of the President in which he
referred to the strike as politically motivated.
The statement read, “The primary goal of our union is
to work for the repositioning of the Nigerian university
system for global competition in terms of comparable
facilities and staff quality. This goal we have pursued
with diligence as a trade union.
“The Umaru Yar’Adua/Goodluck Jonathan government
did not accuse ASUU of playing politics all through the
three years (2006-2009) negotiations that produced
the 2009 agreement. As Vice-President, Jonathan made
significant input into the negotiation process. In 2012,
when the MoU was signed despite doubts about
government’s sincerity, President Jonathan did not
impute political motives. Even the landmark report of
the Committee on the Needs Assessment of Nigerian
Public Universities was not interpreted as political.
“Why is it now when ASUU insists that the Federal
Government should deliver on what it undertook to do
under the 2009 agreement, the 2012 MoU and the
2012 Needs Assessment Report that the union is being
accused of embarking on a political strike?
“ASUU members, and, indeed, progressive Nigerians,
know too well that the accusation of politicisation of
strike is a cheap blackmail. If anything, it is the Federal
Government that is trying to whip up political
sentiments over matters that are straightforward and
clear to all and sundry.”
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