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By Gabriel Dike, Fred Ezeh, Abuja, Aloysius Attah, Onitsha, Felix Ikem, Nsukka, and Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The signs are here again. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is warming up for another strike in the nation’s public universities.
Is the Federal Government aware of ASUU’s move to down tools again? What is the President Bola Tinubu administration doing to avert the industrial action? These are the questions on the lips of students and parents.
From all indications, ASUU has concluded the mobilisation of members in public universities, who are awaiting the approval of the National Executive Council (NEC).
Four weeks ago, NEC postponed the strike that would have commenced on Monday, June 10, 2024, tasking its branches and zones to go back and mobilise members and sensitise the general public.
WARM-UP TO STRIKE
In June when government officials met with ASUU leaders, students and parents heaved a sigh of relief that the issues in contention would be resolved. But nothing has changed. ASUU continued to beat war drums, urging Nigerians to intervene in its face-off with government.
Between June and July, ASUU zones and branches sensitised the general public about their plight and the Federal Government’s failure to address their demands since 2009.
Also, the branches held congresses to brief members about the NEC decisions.
At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos, rally, ASUU asked Nigerians, especially parents and students, to hold the Federal Government responsible for the impending strike.
The branch also disclosed that despite a series of promises made by Tinubu to address their demands, nothing has come out of it in the last one year of his administration.
Some students participated in the protest rally. They decried the poor treatment of their lecturers. The students carried different placards denouncing government’s insensitivity to the demands of ASUU and pleaded with Tinubu to avert the industrial action.
ASUU branch chairman, Prof. Kayode Adebayo, said: “The struggle is not only for the ASUU, but also for the university system. We no longer trust politicians, they promised and failed to fulfil.
Don’t blame the union for another strike, hold the federal government responsible.”
Former branch chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, said: “We have written series of letters to the government, met with the government officials, including the National Assembly, gone on strikes, and for 15 years, the issues have remained unresolved. As of today, the take home pay of a Nigerian professor is about N600, 000, which is not up to what lawmakers use for lunch or dinner.
“The Federal Government must address our demands because we will not guarantee academic stability if it fails to implement them. We call on Tinubu’s administration to pay the withheld salaries, and outstanding earned academic allowances, stop payment of our salaries through IPPIS, pay deduction of third party dues and other demands of the union.
“We cannot guarantee smooth academic activities in our various campuses. If another round of strike should take place in the universities, the Federal Government should be held responsible. Our National Executive Council will certainly decide the next line of action.”
A member of the union, Dr. Michael Oloyede: “If strike is the language the Federal Government understands, we will give it to them. Lecturers cannot continue to teach with an empty stomach. The government should fulfil the agreement signed with ASUU. The union cannot be oppressed.’’
STUDENTS, PARENTS PANIC
Felicia Ndubuisi, a 400-level student of University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, pleaded: “I have zeroed my mind to graduate this year. The government and ASUU should resolve their differences. Any strike will disrupt my plan and others to graduate.
“This news is not a pleasant one. My set in private universities have finished and are serving. We are the ones to suffer the consequences because the children of the politicians will not be affected, they are in universities abroad.”
Two 400 level UNILAG students, Ayomide Madojutimi and Michael Olayewola, decried the insensitive attitude of government to ASUU’s demands since 2009. They urged Tinubu to keep to his promise of resolving the issues to avert another industrial action.
Isaac Tanimomo, a final year student of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, said: the news of an impending strike by ASUU is quite worrisome, stressing that many of his peers are anxious about the potential disruption to their studies, and the impact on their academic progress.
“We are concerned about the uncertainty and the possibility of having extended time in school, which could lead to financial burden and personal inconveniences. Different social media platforms are filled with mixed reactions.
“Obviously, some students are supportive of ASUU’s demands with an understanding that quality of education depends on better funding and working conditions for lecturers, while others are frustrated.
Other News
“Understandably, ASUU is fighting for better funding and working conditions which are essential for maintaining the quality of education. But the Federal Government complaints about budgetary constraints and other priorities.”
Miss Damilola Adebamiro, an undergraduate of University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) appealed to the federal government to respond to ASUU demands so they can end the cycle of industrial actions.
Adebamiro said that some students, who are supposed to spend four years for a particular programme ended up spending six years because of the ASUU’s incessant strike: The Federal Government is to blame because if they had met ASUU demands they wouldn’t have been considering another strike.”
Sadiq Hussain, undergraduate, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, said: “ASUU should go on strike so that government will listen to their demands. The strike will cause disruption of academic activities, but it is necessary because that’s the language government seems to understand.
“Both parties should be blamed because irrespective of the reasons for the strike, their actions are directly affecting the students future who are leaders of tomorrow.”
President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lucky Emonefe, said: “Nothing has been achieved through strike in the past, and that won’t happen now. The option of strike shouldn’t be considered by ASUU because it causes more harm than good. Dialogue table has been the best place to achieve result. At the end of the strike, no matter how long, all parties would still return to the dialogue table.
“When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. In this case, the students are the grass that would suffer. And we don’t want that.”
A parent, Martha Ugbah, said: “In this case, ASUU should be blamed because it seems they have no other strategy for resolution apart from strike. However, the Federal Government and ASUU should reach a compromise to ensure industrial peace in the universities.”
Another parent, Joseph Kadiri, said: “If the strike is initiated, it will exacerbate the already fragile economy, as individuals reliant on university operations for their livelihood will face unemployment. Moreover, amid the country’s significant security challenges, with terrorist and kidnapper groups actively recruiting young individuals, there is a heightened risk of vulnerable students being lured into joining such groups.
“Additionally, the strike will contribute to producing under qualified graduates, as their educational pursuits will be disrupted. Those who manage to persist will focus on passing examination rather than engaging with the academic system, eagerly awaiting the strike’s conclusion to depart the educational environment.”
From Onitsha, Anambra State, a parent, Victor Ononye, said:“Every successive government in Nigeria has always been insincere with fulfillment of promises and agreements. It is painful that ASUU is threatening to embark on strike because we know the implications, but at the same time we feel for the university lecturers over their plight.
“Any protracted strike again in Nigeria’s public universities would have ripple effects on the system. Tinubu should as a matter of urgency address the demands of ASUU and the labour unions in general.”
A 400 level student of Medical Laboratory Science, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Nnewi campus , Juliet Ogochukwu, lamented: “The looming strike will not only cripple academic activities but also disrupts the calendar.
“It will sound the death knell on education in Nigeria. Those who are already at a breaking point in their lives because of hardship and economic challenges will just give up finally.”
Miriam Chukwuma, Department of Radiography, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus: “Students are made to pass through frustrations because of the insensitivity of the Federal Government to issues of education. ASUU’s demands are genuine. Government should honour agreements and attend to the demands of ASUU to save the students an avoidable setback.”
Mrs. Dorathy Ohayi, a parent said: “It is sad that government is not showing signs of disturbance about the condition of public tertiary institutions in the country. I can’t imagine that a developing country like ours that is facing challenges in almost all sectors of the economy is toying with the education system.
“I commend ASUU and would want them to remain resolute in their struggle to restore the standard of public tertiary institutions in the country. I blame government for the lingering issues in the public universities. Education requires adequate funding and it is their duty to do that. So, they should do the needful without further delay.”
Another parent, Mr. Sunday Omeje, said: “I am not surprised about the plan by ASUU to embark on another strike. Strike is not something that will end in public universities any soon as long as the children of public office holders are studying in the best universities in the world.
“This is a calculated plan by public officeholders and other elite Nigerians to continue to impoverish the poor masses; it is a divide-and-rule system. So, ASUU’s demand and agitations are fair and just.”
Favour Nnabuife, a 300-level student of the Pharmaceutical Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said: “The strike if allowed to happen will be another sad and distracting situation for students.
“It will be another unwanted elongation to our scheduled graduation year. It will be another big financial burden on us and our parents under the country’s already miserable economy.
“I am not blaming any party, I am only appealing to them to shift ground and arrive at a common ground that will be beneficial to all and sundry.”
Israel Abraham, a first-year student of Human Kinetic and Health Education, UNN: “We the students are at the receiving end of the whole situation. When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. That is the situation we found ourselves, very pathetic.
“All we desire is an uninterrupted academic calendar with a conducive leaning environment, hence, the reason FG and ASUU should sheath their swords.”
A parent in Ebonyi State, Louis Omenyi, who is also a lecturer, said: “When these strikes come on, the main people that suffer the most are even the lecturers. Like if you recall in 2022 strike, our children were at home.
“Strike is the only language Federal Government listens to, that’s the only one they will understand. They never do anything until they hear ASUU is preparing for strike or that ASUU has embarked on strike. They don’t ever call us for negotiation. The present administration in the country has spent more than one year and they never called ASUU for a meeting.”
Mazi Douglas Okoro, has two undergraduates in two universities queried: “How can our lecturers be receiving meagre salaries while people who have no certificate or didn’t acquire formal education are being paid millions as salaries?”
Susan Nwankwo Nneka, Department of English and Literary Studies, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Nduf-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, said: “Federal Government should do everything possible to avert this looming strike. Strike cripples academic activities, it affects teaching and learning.”
