“We will not hesitate to shut down the
education system in the country, if the
government fails to fulfil or honour the
agreement it entered into with the
lecturers”.
Those were the words of the National
President of the Nigerian Union of
Teachers (NUT) Mr. Michael Olukoya on
Thursday September 26, 2013 while
announcing his union’s 2 weeks
ultimatum to the Federal Government to
resolve the ASUU crisis. The NUT was
obviously not ready for a peace-maker
role as some analysts would imagine.
Rather, it came into the subject on the
side of ASUU. This can be deduced from
the union’s statement that the current
ASUU strike was “nationalistic, patriotic
and self-sacrificing”.
The government probably sensed this
and hurriedly met with the teachers to
plead with them not to complicate the
subject. Interestingly, although the
NUT’s body language at the meeting
gave an impression that it was
persuaded by the plea, the union has
since restated that its ultimatum stays.
Considering that any responsible societal
institution is expected to seek solutions
to a nation’s problem it is hard to
immediately appreciate the present
posture of the NUT. Some labour
analysts are quick at drawing attention
to the fact that a solidarity strike is
acceptable in global unionism. This
according to them would move the
government to take ASUU much more
seriously. It would indeed get the
attention of the international
community and as such, put the Federal
Government on its toes.
As if some other unions buy this
principle of the power of democracy, the
idea of solidarity action is gaining
ground by the day on the ASUU issue.
Already, 2 other powerful unions are
warming up to join the strike. The
Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers
(NUPENG) was the first to show concern.
At the end of the union’s National
Administrative Council meeting, held in
Lagos last weekend, its President, Igwe
Achese stated that his union was not
happy at the crisis facing the public
university system. It therefore
threatened to stop distribution of
petroleum products across the country if
the Federal Government failed to
implement the agreement reached with
ASUU.
Only last Thursday, the National Union
of Electricity Employees (NUEE), gave the
Federal Government seven days to
resolve the ASUU strike or face a total
shut down of electricity facilities in the
country. The decision of the union was
made known by its General Secretary,
Mr. Joe Ajaero at a training workshop
for labour leaders in the power sector in
Enugu, The secretary was emphatic that
the union could no longer sit back and
watch the destruction of the future of
Nigerian students who have remained at
home for the past 3months on account
of the ASUU strike. Thus it is now
certain that dangerous dimensions are
about to be introduced into the crisis
making it obvious that it is time to call
on well-meaning Nigerians to intervene
and save the nation from disintegrating.
It will be recalled that the National
Assembly, especially its education
committees, had in the past waded
unsuccessfully into the crisis. The Vice
President, Governor Gabriel Suswan of
Benue State, the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation and the
Minister of Labour had all similarly tried
in vain. Of course, the matter is far
beyond the capacity of the current
supervising Minister of Education. It
would in earnest be unwise to leave it
with him having failed when he along
with the former main Minister in the
Ministry tackled the issue. Is he likely to
do better now that he is alone; more so
as his other crisis in Rivers State might
take more of his time? At this point, it
seems rational to bring in fresh hands to
handle the subject. Here, we suggest the
invitation of Owelle Rochas Okorocha,
the Imo State Governor, who is fast
becoming accepted as a man with a
rescue mission orientation.
Oh yes, the media has of recent become
replete with wonderful stories of a
complete transformation of Imo’s
Education system. It is a man like Rochas
who has made Education the biggest
industry in his State that is needed right
now. Perhaps because he is matching
Governor Akpabio naira for naira in
what looks like governance by publicity,
some people tend to doubt the miracles
of Rochas in Imo. The truth however is
that even his political rivals marvel at
his initiatives in the education sector. At
the last count, Governor Okorocha has
in his State ensured free education to
the tertiary level; improved subvention
of N252 million to Imo State University
from N56 million, improved subvention
of N98 million to Imo State Polytechnics’,
Umuagwo from N45 million, construction
of Imo College of Advanced Professional
Studies [ICAPS], Young Scientist College
and 305 European standard schools in
the state. A few weeks back, the state
government under his watch took
delivery of 15 container loads of school
uniforms, sandals, desks, books and
other learning materials that have been
freely distributed to school children
under the free education programme.
A short trip to Imo State would convince
cynics that public schools there now
have clean and beautiful environments
where several modern facilities abound.
Unlike ASUU members, school heads in
Imo now have maintenance budget and
their salaries are now regular. Over
70% of them have been promoted with
their staff rooms well equipped and
decorated. It will be hard for the NUT to
get Imo teachers whose allowances are
guaranteed to join its solidarity strike.
For instance, they now get wardrobe
allowance as well as end of year bonus.
There is also the story that teachers are
paid before other public servants in the
state. As a result, the idea of part-time
teaching and part-time-trading that is
prevalent in many states is banished in
Imo. The Nigerian nation therefore
needs the help of Rochas Okorocha, the
new ‘Awo’ of Imo education to reveal
how he manages education as well as
teachers. If this suggestion is followed,
Rochas will no doubt encourage all our
leaders to follow his own avowed
principle of “never to play politics with
education”

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Very lengthy write up.