Clearing the Differences Between ASUU and FG: A Message to the Misinformed Masses
By Abdulmumin Solihu
Since the conflict between the two parties had taken a new direction through the exchange of words initiated by the FG’s “Enough is enough”, the strike action has sprouted into a more complicated conflict. It was firstly the government appealing to the union, then the union rejected the appeal; leading to the battle of words.
Recently, the president of the union appealed to the student to spare just 2 years. All of these were followed by a series of pleas and appeals to the union from FG and individuals to consider calling off the strike. Now parents are beckoned to intervene and appeal to the union on behalf of the government.
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While all these were going on, some of these government officials are celebrating the success of their children in institutions abroad. One of them even resumed a leadership school in an institution while our supposed “future leaders” are at home. The children of our Education Minister are not schooling in any of our institutions. What a joke!
What a nation!
When two elephants fight, says an African proverb, it is the grass that suffers the aftermath. At the end of all these hullabaloos, the members of the union get paid their dues; the government remain unaffected; it’s always the students. A dilapidated and confusing system of education that doesn’t ascertain employment at the end; yet, it’s been denied as and when necessary.
The all-time incumbent strike which started ever since the inception of the union in the late 80s has now established an unfavourable eventuality. The varsity unions who are misunderstood as always are currently receiving all sorts of insults from the misinformed masses.
The youths (undergraduates) who are the most concerned party on which all the aftermath lies are at home engaging in nonsense or nothing. The concerned government agencies and bodies, as a result of their lackadaisical behaviour, have kept the strike lingering. In the end, everyone ends up at the receiving end of the whole dilemma.
An intense situation where an assistant lecturer at a varsity, who’s, at the same time, an MSc holder becomes a potato seller. A disheartening condition where our departmental groups are now meant for updates from sports and BBN. A bedevilling period where the supposed future leaders are now chasing money rather than quality education.
“We hope that ASUU will sympathize with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake.” Those were the words from the president of a giant that never was – Nigeria. Funny as it sounds, the “enough” lies with them.
To just fulfil the requirements and get us back into classrooms. Are you oblivious of the ongoing conflict between the two parties? Are you yet to know the bone of contention? You don’t know who to blame at this point? Let’s briefly explore the two most important demands of the union and how it’s justifiable.
The 2009 Agreement: The 2009 Agreement is by far the commonest and the most referenced factor leading to the most recent strike action. Unfortunately, not many of those blaming the union know what the agreement is all about. From a copy of the agreement made available for download on the Premium Times Ng Website, it was seen that the agreement reached between the duo in their 2009 negotiation is as follows:
• Breakdown of lecturers’’ salary structure, staff loans, pensions, overtime, and moderation of examinations;
• Revitalization and funding of universities with each federal and state university getting at least N1.5 trillion and N3.6 million respectively between 2009 and 2011;
• Allocation of at least 26% of the nation’s annual budget to education with half of it for universities;
• Amendment of the 2004 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB Act and the National University Commission Act of 2004;
• Pensionable retirement age of academics in the professorial cadre;
• Consolidate peculiar allowances for university teaching staff;
• National Health Insurance scheme;
• Setting up a committee for budget monitoring in all public universities; among others.
While some of these agreements have been implemented, a large number of it is yet to be resolved. Funny enough, part of the 2009 agreement happened to be a rollover of a similar agreement in 2001. Little wonder ASUU decides to be adamant this time around.
Payment Method – Adoption of UTAS: What the public hears most time is a series of tests for the Universality Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) platform developed by the union. In all the previous tests, the platform has reportedly scored a 99.7 per cent pass mark. Then, why is the government not approving it?
For those supporting the government on the claim that where on earth does an employee decides for his employer on the desired payment method, here is the truth. The Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is opposed by the union because it contravenes the university’s autonomy.
According to the then president of the union, in the person of Mr Biodun Ogunyemi, the payment platform is corrupted and claimed that some officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the federation are involved in “bribe-for-salaries”, as described by him.
Remember from the 2020 strike which spate through February till October, the union were not paid their salaries until later after an agreement, which was later compromised, was reached. The ongoing strike which is in its sixth month also has denied the members of the union their salaries. Most of them have to survive on spouses, family members, side hustles, petty trade, or loans.
These are the people expected to deliver quality education to our children. By implication, if the demanded funds get released to them, a large portion of it will be dedicated to loans and debt.
As a result of these, and numerous others to be unveiled in subsequent articles, the union has decided to be insistent on the strike this time. Giving in to any agreement or promise will only result in what the past decisions have been yielding.
Which nation across the globe offers this quality of education and experience growth? That’s why we are still struggling at this development stage of ours. Indeed, for anyone studying in Nigeria, it’s either Pablo Richey or Albert Einstein. It’s always a community of “school nah scam” minds or “let’s just graduate” individuals.
The bottom line is that the start of the student’s right to education will put an end to the government’s right to the negligence of the union’s demands and the union’s right to persistent strike actions.
