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…Over non-implementation of FG/ASUU agreement, unions mobilise for strike
Unless Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos addresses the demands of lecturers in the three state-owned universities, academic activities in the instutions will be disrupted. There is already an uneasy calm at Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) over the failure of the state government to implement the signed agreement.
The national body after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja listed 20 state universities yet to begin the implementation of the agreement and ASUU LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH were among. Eighteen of the mentioned state universities have since embarked on strike to press home the implementation of their demands.
Last week the three academic unions in the state-owned universities issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government through the vice chancellors.
Members in the unions are agitated and have vowed to down tools if the state government failed to meet their demands. They are also demanding the recall of sacked union leaders in two of the institutions.
To show the seriousness on the part of the national body, the leadership of ASUU Lagos Zone led by its Coordinator, Prof. Adesola Nassir, was in attendance at the three congresses.
The decisions to issue the 14-ultimatum was overwhelming. One of the chairmen told Daily Sun it was an indication of members’ readiness to embark on strike if the green light is received from NEC.
Before the ultimatum was issued, ASUU alerted the state government of a brewing unrest in the state: “Government, not ASUU, should be held responsible if all universities belonging to Lagos State are thrown into avoidable crises or totally shut down on account of poor response of the government to the concerns of our members. A stitch in time saves nine.”
ASUU Lagos Zone’s position
Nassir said the non-implementation of the agreement has left members feeling neglected, undervalued and increasingly uncertain about the government’s commitment to their welfare: “Federal Government in eight tortuous years of renegotiation of the 2009 agreement culminating, eventually, in the signing of the agreement in 2025.
“To ensure that stakeholders were carried along, government team comprised pro-chancellors of federal and state universities in addition to representatives of other government agencies. By this arrangement, we therefore believed that the implementation of the agreement would be seamless such that the disruption in academic calendars, occasioned by union strikes over non implementation, would be avoided.
“To our utter disappointment, the Lagos State Government appears to be playing the ostrich on this matter. Six months of interaction with some representatives of the state government has not produced any concrete results. By the attitude of the Lagos State authorities, we are compelled to ask some salient questions:
“Is Lagos State at war with the Federal Government on the matter of welfare, salary inclusive, for the staff of her universities? Would it be right to continue to delay the implementation of the agreement when neighboring state universities that are less financially endowed have started implementing the agreement? How can a government demand world-class university rankings while failing to create world-class conditions for academic work?
“How can excellence flourish where welfare remains uncertain? How can innovation thrive amid recurring industrial tension? How can universities compete globally when the scholars expected to drive that competition are persistently demoralised?
“Wage administration in country is undoubtedly on the exclusive list. Besides, the country operates one university system. This is why academic curricula, standards, facilities, academic status, etc. are heavily regulated by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The current stance of Lagos State Government on this matter is therefore totally unacceptable.
“For a state that proudly bears the slogan Centre of Excellence,6 its managers from the governor to the foot soldiers knows that excellence is sustained by people, particularly by those who create knowledge, educate professionals, conduct research, and shape future leaders.
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“No government can legitimately claim excellence while the intellectual workforce responsible for producing excellence experiences prolonged uncertainty over agreed welfare commitments.
“Where staff begins to feel despondent, as it is now the case at LASU, LASUSTECH and LASUED, management of the system becomes problematic and this triggers institutional decline in all its ramifications inclusive of staff apathy, ethical drift and sharp practices, reduced graduate quality and eventually disruption in academic calendar.
“Our perception is that Lagos State is now more than before synonymous with delayed attention to legitimate staff welfare and this has become a recurring feature rather than an isolated occurrence. We are also disturbed by the lackadaisical manner in which local staff crises and cries in LASU and LASUED is being handled.
“The union remains committed to constructive engagement and will not allow any state to trivialise our committed struggle to improve the lots of the universities in producing high quality graduates that would power societal development at state and national levels.
“The union does not seek confrontation for its own sake. Industrial peace is built not upon an arrogant refusal to implement an agreement borne out of collective engagement.
“Our union has written to state governments that own universities, inclusive of Lagos State, through the vice chancellors. We are also aware of communications to the universities by the Executive Secretary of NUC. Our union is giving full backing to this movement.
“The zone will give its full support to LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH in whatever decision they choose to take to get the agreement implemented by state government. We urge the governor, who is also the Visitor to these universities, to crown his tenure with a crisis-free Lagos State by resolving this matter and other crisis points in its universities.”
Parents’ reactions
Parents have made passionate appeals to Sanwo-Olu to implement the agreement without further delay to avert the impending industrial action.
Alhaji Tajudeen Habib: “Initially, I was shocked to see Lagos State in the list of defaulting states. Small states with less financial resources have started the implementation of the agreement. I call on the governor to do the needful before ASUU disrupts academic activities in the three universities. I want my son in LASUSTECH to graduate without any hindrance.”
Margaret Ukpo, whose son is expected to graduate soon, told Daily Sun that the union should dialogue with the state government rather than the threat to embark on strike, which she said will delay students graduation. She called on the state government to invite the leadership of ASUU for negotiation on how to implement the agreement and also reinstate the sacked union leaders in LASU and LASUED.
Ayodele Fabiyi, was emphatic that Lagos State has the money to meet the demands of the lecturers in the three institutions and must ensure the academic staff do not keep to their promise of downing tool.
He added: “I can’t imagine that a state like Lagos is struggling to meet the demands of ASUU members in LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH. Two universities in the state are preparing for graduation of their first set of graduates; this strike must not be allowed to happen. It will no doubt disrupt the system and will certainly affect students.’’
Members in the three universities are agitated and have vowed to down tool if the state government failed to meet their demands.
One of the union chairmen said the state government has not invited the unions for discussion: “Rather, the government invited another group that did not declare trade dispute with the state government for discussion. We are waiting for NEC’s directive.”
