Another issue that calls for concern is
the situation at the University of
Ilorin. UNILORIN has over the years
also failed to join National strike
action by ASUU. It is saddening to
note that UNILORIN (a federal
University) which is set to benefit
from the one hundred billion largesse
of the FG as a result of the struggle
by ASUU is carrying on with its
normal academic activity while other
Schools are on strike.
On Monday, 1st July, 2013, Nigerian
Students woke up to the reality that the
Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) was proceeding on another
industrial action to press home their
demands from the Government. Having been
a witness of two previous strike actions by
ASUU (June, 2009- October, 2009) as well
as December 4, 2011-February 2nd, 2012),
it did not come as a surprise to someone
like me but only reminded me of the sorry
situation that now engulfs the Nigerian
State in which agreements are no longer
sacrosanct. The GEJ led Government has
overtime demonstrated its penchant for
honouring agreement reached with workers
Union and so I felt it was just one of those
low-points in our polity. More than ninety
(90) days into the strike, unfortunately, it
appears that a solution to the intractable
crises is far from near thus leaving Nigerian
Students to languish at home. Indeed,
Nigerian Students have thus been left at
the Mercy of GEJ and the Dr Isa
Faggae led ASUU.
The strike action has once again forced
Nigerian Students to become idle hands.
Day in day out, we read of undergraduates
involved in prostitution, armed robbery,
drug-related offences and so on (needless
to say we students pay dearly whenever
ASUU proceeds on strike). In as much as I
support ASUU in their demands for
improved infrastructure in our ivory towers,
payment of Earned allowances, adjustment
of retirement age as well as other
demands, the modus operandi and
circumstances surrounding the strike has
thrown up a lot of questions which are
begging for answers.
According to the Press statement by the
ASUU President, Dr Isa Faggae at the
commencement of the strike, ASUU
expressed its solidarity with lecturers at
the Rivers State University of Science and
Technology (RSUST). RSUST lecturers
have been at logger heads with the Governor
of Rivers state, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi
over the re-appointment of Prof B.B Fakae
as Vice-Chancellor of the institution. ASUU
alleged that his appointment did not follow
due process in the first instance and that
he shouldn’t be considered for
reappointment, while I am not against
expressing solidarity to compatriots in
struggle, what amuses me however is that
ASUU is fighting on behalf of people who
themselves are not fighting. It is
unfortunate and saddening that while
ASUU national body proclaimed a
nationwide strike to force the FG honour
the agreement, lecturers at RSUST have
been carrying on as if all is well. They
disregarded ASUU’s national directive and
are currently
teaching their Students. What then is the
stake of ASUU regarding the crises at
RSUST? Is ASUU not crying more than the
bereaved?
Another issue that calls for concern is the
situation at the University of Ilorin.
UNILORIN has over the years also failed
to join National strike action by ASUU. It
is saddening to note that UNILORIN (a
Federal university) which is set to benefit
from the one hundred billion largesse of the
FG as a result of the struggle by ASUU is
carrying on with its normal academic
activity while other schools are on strike.
Are some animals more equal than the
other? ASUU UNILORIN is not sweating
yet they are set to reap from the sweat of
others, I believe this ought not to be so.
Lest I forget, ASUU is also demanding that
the re-engaged UNILORIN 49 gets their
salary, allowances and entitlements for
sabbatical leave and promotions yet the
lecturers are not participating in the
National strike. This appears to me like the
case of ‘’Monkey dey work, both baboon and
Monkey dey chop’’.
The on-going strike actions have also raised
posers about the involvement of state
Varsities in the strike action. Knowing fully
well that State Varsities are not under the
control of the FG, it is therefore worrisome
that State Universities are participating in
a strike action that favours mostly Federal
Universities and their staff. State
Varsities were only co-opted into the gains
of the current struggle in 2012, why then
did they participate in the past strike
actions by ASUU when they were not
affected? Is it a case of solidarity? If
they are solidarising with Federal workers,
will Federal workers also reciprocate when
it comes to their turn?
I still foresee bigger crises in state
Universities by the time National ASUU
calls off their own strike action as state
lecturers will have to go back to their state
Government to get their own Earned
allowances, adjustment to retirement age
and other sundry issues in the 2009 FGN/
ASUU agreement. This was what happened
after National ASUU called off its own
strike action in February last year only for
some state Universities to continue for as
many more months. I believe State
Governments are not bound by any
agreement between the FG and workers and
thus state lecturers should forthwith enter
negotiations with their respective state
Government to avoid another round of
strike action in the State Universities.
It is therefore my opinion that ASUU needs
to explain why its struggles will benefit
RSUST and UNILORIN yet they didn’t
down tools as directed. Let me also use this
opportunity to plead with the FG to not for
anything else but for the sake of its honour
and giving an Independence gift to Nigerian
Students honour its agreement with not
only ASUU but other Staff Unions such as
the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics
(ASUP), College of Education Academic
Staff Union (COEASU), Senior staff
Association of Nigerian Universities
(SSANU) and the Non-academic staff
Union (NASU). These agreements seek to
place our tertiary institutions back on the
path of greatness and it should be
faithfully and judiciously implemented.
——

www.ynaija.com/opinion-ASUU-strike-unilorin-and-rsust-needs-to-answer-these-questions/

who is to be held responsible for all these now?