Clement Chup is the zonal coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Abuja. Chup, in this interview, hints that there is no end in sight to the four months old strike by the university teachers which has kept students at home.

By Laide Akinboade

The Minister of Education recently said ASUU strike would be over in a few months. What is the
position of ASUU?

I may not be in a position to give you the official position of ASUU, it is the National President that would give you the official position, but I want to tell you that there is a lot of insincerity on the part of government and, because government has the machinery of propaganda at their disposal, they disseminate a lot of falsehood to the general public.

We are not talking about what government wants to do; what we are talking about is the implementation of an agreement which was signed by government and our union. So what government should be explaining is the morality for the implementation; so far, government has not come out to say this is what we will do.

Rather, what government is trying to do is to run away from the agreement and we cannot accept that because the agreement is binding. Government must be honorable and responsible and implement the agreement.

To buttress their insincerity, government would claim, and they have been telling the general public, that they released N100 billion two months ago. Up till now that we are talking, one kobo has not been released to any university, that is to tell you how insincere government is.

So when they say we would as from next year make budgetary provision for so so and so amount, the question we should be asking ourselves is , what was spelt out in the agreement, which we are insisting they should implement? They cannot even give you an answer. In as much as we painfully went into this strike and, in as much as we are painfully pursuing this strike, in as much as we want this strike to end, we cannot just end it without achieving the purpose for which we went on the strike. So, as long as government does not show any sincerity to implement the agreement, the strike continues.

Can you react to government’s allegation that ASUU is politicizing the strike?

Well, a thief always thinks that every other person is a thief; because they believe politics is all about falsehood, they think others are reasoning like them. But the question they should be asking is, does ASUU have basis for going on this strike? Let anyone of them come out and say no. Does the agreement exist and did the Federal Government sign the agreement? The answer is yes.

Why are they refusing to implement it? Like I said earlier, they have the machinery for propaganda at their disposal they can disseminate whatever false information they want and they think everybody is like them. We are a union of intellectuals we don’t just come out to say anything or do anything, we subject it to scrutiny.

We cannot become like them; it was said even by government at the highest quarters, but you would recall they have not told us how, what manner of politics has come in and let Nigerians know.

They said ASUU has been politicized. How? and it has been influenced by the opposition. The question we should ask is by which opposition. We look at them as politicians and all this claim is a tool by the Federal Government to blackmail us cheaply and we know they cannot succeed.

How many meetings have you had so far with the Federal Government and are the meetings on-going?

I prefer when you talk about meetings and discussions because there have been no negotiations going on but there are discussions, because you already have something to work with because when you have an agreement, it is a product of negotiation and it took us three years and I want to emphasize, three years, to arrive at that document called the 2009 agreement and, for you to arrive at an agreement, you must have made concessions. We have the document, it is for government to honour it.

We would not refuse any invitation by anybody. The Federal Government has been calling us for discussions and we have been going. So, as long as they call us we will go, probably they want to tell us how they are going to implement the agreement.

It was reported that the Federal Government has increased the N30 billion it released for earned allowance to N40 billion. Is this true?

The Federal Government didn’t consult us before they released the N30 billion. You see the insincerity? We were discussing how to implement the 2009 agreement and they simply went and released money to the universities, without any template, to cause further problems in the universities. So, if they have decided to add, and it was not part of the agreement, if they want to give universities award, they should go ahead.

If somebody wants to give you award, you won’t reject it, but we know that we have an agreement and you should implement the agreement and when you want to implement the agreement, you are supposed to carry us along.

Government is using this to blackmail us cheaply, and the next thing they would say is they have ‘released money, why won’t you call off the strike?’

We are not part of it and we have refused to participate in it and, in all the universities, you can ask, our members are not participating in the sharing of that money because it was not part of the agreement.

Public sympathy on the strike, what is ASUU doing about this?

We are taking that into consideration. You know one thing about public sympathy, it can easily change depending on circumstances, but what we are looking at is the fact of the matter and the truth on ground. Now if you look at it, people that are heroes historically were called rebels, even in the Bible, Jesus Christ was called a rebel, the people he was dying for were the ones shouting ‘crucify him’. ASUU stands for the truth to advance the cause of education in Nigeria. And also the cause of this country because by the time government becomes responsible, it will benefit not only education but also everybody. It is will be a stepping stone, then people will realize that government carries some responsibilities. For now, we are appealing to the public but we know we are fighting a just cause and we will continue. There are people who feel ASUU should call off the strike and then come back for negotiation?

There are no negotiations going on; so which negotiation are we going to allow or are we saying we should allow implementation?
Where was government when we were giving warnings? This is part of the insincerity by government we are talking about.

How many times did ASUU warn the Federal Government?

We wrote 53 letters since February 2012 and each of the letters was made public. There is none of our National Executive meetings we would not publish advertorial in newspapers and warnings constantly. We even visited some eminent Nigerians and urged them to talk to the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement.

We told them then we would eventually go on strike and it would not be good for anybody but they kept quiet; it is now they realize that there should be truce, truce for what?

All we want from the Federal Government is to tell ASUU how they are going to implement the 2009 agreement, that is all. Government cannot run away from the agreement; we must work based on the agreement.

But the Federal Government said it cannot implement some of the things in the agreement? It said the idea of releasing N400 billion per annum is not realistic?

Who signed it? Ask them. Looking at the kind of government we have in this country, only last week, the government said it was getting ready to bail out the aviation sector for the second time. They feel this sector is important because they fly;

But they have forgotten about most Nigerians that travel by road. Is it not Government money they are going to use? Where did they get the trillions they are going to use?

Nigeria is supposed to commence the operation of national carrier before the end of this year – that is more of a priority to them. Education is not. You see the outrageous expenditure for those in government. Does that give the impression that the nation doesn’t have money? A few days ago, the Central Bank came out to tell us that in nine months, the nation made over N6 trillion and our budget is just over N4 trillion. They shouldn’t come out with the falsehood that the nation cannot afford to implement some parts of the 2009 agreement.

Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation mid-wifed the memorandum of understanding that they are saying they cannot release, that is the insincerity we are talking about.

Is there end in sight to the four months old ASUU strike?

We don’t know, it is not for us to end it. When government is ready, we are ready.

What specifically does ASUU want the Federal Government to do?

We don’t want a fresh negotiation. When we wanted to go on strike, there was referendum in all our branches and they said until there is substantial evidence of implementation the 2009 agreement, we shall not suspend the strike. All we are saying is that the agreement should be implemented.

There is nothing new about it, it is what we have been saying since the strike started and even before we went on strike. So let the Federal Government go on and implement the 2009 agreement. We cannot abrogate our agreement – on it we stand.

We are doing our best to give updates but you will agree with me that we are handicapped and we don’t have the quantum of resources that Federal Government has for propaganda. You will agree with me that is a challenge on its own. That is not to say that we are not doing our best trying to explain to Nigerians our situation.
source
http://myschool.com.ng/school/news/22939/no-retreat-no-surrender-fg-is-deceiving-nigerians-acirc-ASUU-leader.html

Rightly said... Strike continues until our radical government give ceaser wat belongs to ceaser... What ASUU is asking for is the implementation of 2009 bond btw them and FG..... We must turn the attention of dis greedy thieves into strenghtining d educational sector of dis nation as education is d BEDROCK to development in any country...... Am i d 1st to comment?

Trailblazer-ng:


Can you react to Government's allegation that ASUU is politicizing the strike?



Well, a thief always thinks that every other person is a thief; because they believe politics is all about falsehood, they think others are reasoning like them.

The thought alone that President GEJ is a product of a Nigerian University is disgusting. He should be stripped off his PhD, if you ask me.
His wastful government (comprised of bulletproof $225million BMW StellaOduah, Deziani and their very corrupt likes)isn't of any good to Nigerians and her educational system, of which he is a product of.

Trailblazer-ng:




It was reported that the Federal Government has increased the N30 billion it released for earned allowance to N40 billion. Is this true?





The Federal Government didn’t consult us before they released the N30 billion. You see the insincerity? We were discussing how to implement the 2009 agreement and they simply went and released money to the universities, without any template, to cause further problems in the universities. So, if they have decided to add, and it was not part of the agreement, if they want to give universities award, they should go ahead.

If somebody wants to give you award, you won’t reject it, but we know that we have an agreement and you should implement the agreement and when you want to implement the agreement, you are supposed to carry us along.

Government is using this to blackmail us cheaply, and the next thing they would say is they have ‘released money, why won’t you call off the strike?’

We are not part of it and we have refused to participate in it and, in all the universities, you can ask, our members are not participating in the sharing of that money because it was not part of the agreement.

@Wesley80 and Taharqa, You guys have just been busted.



@Wesly, dispenser of horrible lies. You claimed lecturers have received a part of their allowance from the N30billion released by the FG. Here you have an ASUU official denying that none of their members have participated in sharing of the money.



@Taharqa, you joined him in the ASUU blackmail campaign, claiming a 'fictitious' Professor told you he had received N1million as his share from the N30billion.


The thread below is where you guys polluted with lies.

www.nairaland.com/1480986/ASUU-strike-re-yet-receive

But dis strike affect d price of Garri for market? What of beans own?

In as much as I know that some of ASUU's demands are alarming and outrageous, government should not be playing the victim through sponsored campaign of blackmail being circulated in the media and horrendous lies being fired by Government's hired guns. Government needs to continue to plead to the stricking lecturers, because it was Government who consented to the said agreement, which makes the agreement binding on them. ASUU should also consider the plight of the parents, and the students. As they say, 'an idle mind is the devil's workshop'.

Demdems way forward.

Demdem: [b]If not for Foolish and miserable leaders of which Jonathan was a chief player when the agreement was signed we wouldn't be where we are today.

As beautiful as the agreement is i have always been uncomfortable with FG funding States universities (that is my only issue with the agreement). I wont Blame ASUU because as a Union, the interest of its members and constituencies comes first.
In our individual lives, when we negotiate, we make sure we position and present ourselves on a positive footing to get the best and that ASUU simply did and should be praised for doing a good job. They caught the killer party by the balls.

Having said this, an agreement is an agreement. The idea that its not implementable is pure rubbish. As long as our govt continue to have enough resources for frivolities like food, cars, gates, foreign trips, presidential jets, NASS expenses, executive recklessness running into billions yearly, only the extremely foolish will believe such crap.
UNICEF recommends 26% of a country's budget to education, as it is today we are not even close to half of that. For me, 20% to education should be the starting point.

Here to me is the way foward from this stalemate.

1) Considering the fact that our govt has to live to his words and responsible, Jonathan should immediately implement the full details of the agreement since day 1 when it was signed till Oct 31st 2013. The govt is bound to abide by its signed agreement. u dont change the goal post when the play is ongoing.

2) ASUU should immediately call off the strike as soon as (1) is done.

3) Jonathan should immediately call for re-negotiation of the FG/ASUU agreement to reflect current global practices and country's capabilities.

(3) should never be implemented before (2) because it will cause a very bad precedence and (2) should never be considered before (1) because the FG will term his citizens has fools. they all should follow sequentially as i have proposed.

Hopefully by the time we get to (3) Jonathan will ensure that far more smarter peeps than him will be employed to negotiate on behalf of the FG. ASUU will always have good representations no doubt.[/b]

Demdem: Demdems way forward.

Don't worry, you shall be appointed into the next committee Jonathan will constitute with the mandate to proffer a way out. There you can tender your suggestions. We have been told that 'Government officials don't know their right from left', that is according to David Mark.

K

Which way now. Me don tire o

Have guys read this agreement? How will a professor be asking for a special allowance for supervising a post grad student (most of dem dnt teach undergrad again oo) also asking for stress allowance ( what's stressful in seling handouts ask a trafic police man what is stress) if 20% of d budget goes to education ?must all of d 20% goes to uni, what of NUT,polythecnics and college of edu? What about all d damn internally generated funds of dis uni,80,000 for predegree, post ume 20,000 yet no body ask u for remitance, u want fg to fund state uni. E.t.c.
I believe we need to ask those guys who signed the damn agreement if they were hypnotized or they can't comprehend d big grammer ASUU used in drafting d letter.dy were just signing after a cup of coffee

AWONEYAN: Have guys read this agreement? How will a professor be asking for a special allowance for supervising a post grad student (most of dem dnt teach undergrad again oo) also asking for stress allowance ( what's stressful in seling handouts ask a trafic police man what is stress) if 20% of d budget goes to education ?must all of d 20% goes to uni, what of NUT,polythecnics and college of edu? What about all d damn internally generated funds of dis uni,80,000 for predegree, post ume 20,000 yet no body ask u for remitance, u want fg to fund state uni. E.t.c.
I believe we need to ask those guys who signed the damn agreement if they were hypnotized or they can't comprehend d big grammer ASUU used in drafting d letter.dy were just signing after a cup of coffee

Was the government blindfolded when signing the agreement or do they lack ability to comprehend basic english

DAYUMMMMMMN!!

ASUU Just Murdered FG!!

#iSupportASUU

Make that epileptic OAU boy come foam as usual..

Anybody that reads that ASUU junk and calls it murdering the government is simply being tongue in cheek.

take dat:


@Wesley80 and Taharqa, You guys have just been busted.



@Wesly, dispenser of horrible lies. You claimed lecturers have received a part of their allowance from the N30billion released by the FG. Here you have an ASUU official denying that none of their members have participated in sharing of the money.



@Taharqa, you joined him in the ASUU blackmail campaign, claiming a 'fictitious' Professor told you he had received N1million as his share from the N30billion.


The thread below is where you guys polluted with lies.

www.nairaland.com/1480986/ASUU-strike-re-yet-receive

It is only a member of ASUU that can tell you the truth about the whole thing. Anything from any other source is a lie.

Demdem: ASUU stance is clear as ABC.
Don't give us free money. Just fulfill ur part of a signed agreement that took 3yrs to conclude. Don't add to it and don't subtract.
I wonder why this is so difficult for Jonathan to acheive.

It cud be a difficult thing for the people in government to comprehend, considering their level of reasoning, moreover they think the implementaction of the agreement may reduce what they are stealing.

take dat:


@Wesley80 and Taharqa, You guys have just been busted.



@Wesly, dispenser of horrible lies. You claimed lecturers have received a part of their allowance from the N30billion released by the FG. Here you have an ASUU official denying that none of their members have participated in sharing of the money.



@Taharqa, you joined him in the ASUU blackmail campaign, claiming a 'fictitious' Professor told you he had received N1million as his share from the N30billion.


The thread below is where you guys polluted with lies.

www.nairaland.com/1480986/ASUU-strike-re-yet-receive

You my friend are a sick and irredemable fool to call me a liar. You started this madness of throwing abuses in the other thread and when confronted with truth and compelling arguments you couldnt stand you jumped into a "thread of comfort" to start throwing abuses from your maggot infested mouth.
Now listen you foool, I was with a friend who happens to be a lecturer at the University of Benin when he received his share of that 30billion, his share was 800k and some change while senior lecturers ( I know and personally VERIFIED the amount paid to 2 of them) received 1.4million. The amount received by Professors nearly doubles that received by the Senior lecturers but i couldnt verify the actual figures. Listen once again you miserable oaf, the ASUU chairman of that institution is someone I know "PERSONALLY" but as any sensible person should understand, I'm not at liberty to say in an open forum all that I've come to dig out. If you and that bloody liar whose interview you posted can come out and say that amount was not paid to lecturers in UNIBEN or prove that UNIBEN lecturers do not belong to ASUU, I'll tender my unreserved apology and NEVER post on this forum again. On the other hand, if you can not as little as post here on this forum evidence of your insistence that I'm a liar then May you be damned for repeatedly calling me a liar. Miserable wretch!

Bump!

yelsew80: You my friend are a sick and irredemable fool to call me a liar. You started this madness of throwing abuses in the other thread and when confronted with truth and compelling arguments you couldnt stand you jumped into a "thread of comfort" to start throwing abuses from your maggot infested mouth.
Now listen you foool, I was with a friend who happens to be a lecturer at the University of Benin when he received his share of that 30billion, his share was 800k and some change while senior lecturers ( I know and personally VERIFIED the amount paid to 2 of them) received 1.4million. The amount received by Professors nearly doubles that received by the Senior lecturers but i couldnt verify the actual figures. Listen once again you miserable oaf, the ASUU chairman of that institution is someone I know "PERSONALLY" but as any sensible person should understand, I'm not at liberty to say in an open forum all that I've come to dig out. If you and that bloody liar whose interview you posted can come out and say that amount was not paid to lecturers in UNIBEN or prove that UNIBEN lecturers do not belong to ASUU, I'll tender my unreserved apology and NEVER post on this forum again. On the other hand, if you can not as little as post here on this forum evidence of your insistence that I'm a liar then May you be damned for repeatedly calling me a liar. Miserable wretch!

A pipsqueak discovered in a bare-faced lie, and now want to bully it out even after apprised of the truth. Provide to us evidence/proof that UNIBEN lecturers have received their allowance(s), since we have someone from ASUU contesting your claim and stop making up poorly fabricated tales of fictitious lecturer friends. Wretched lies of a fatuous oaf!

^ Sadly, I've just realized that like your cousin Demdemoron, you arent worth the stress. I've told you my facts and all you can point to is an interview dotted with halftruths by someone who by his own admission "can not give the official position of ASUU" and you think thats enough to base an argument on? I've had a very good day please dont ruin it with your nonsense.

[s]

yelsew80: ^ Sadly, I've just realized that like your cousin Demdemoron, you arent worth the stress. I've told you my facts and all you can point to is an interview dotted with halftruths by someone who by his own admission "can not give the official position of ASUU" and you think thats enough to base an argument on? I've had a very good day please dont ruin it with your nonsense.

[/s]

Wesfool, u still dont make sense. SO u expect us to regard ur friend, a co-liar like u? and not an ASUU Official?

yelsew80: ^ Sadly, I've just realized that like your cousin Demdemoron, you arent worth the stress. I've told you my facts and all you can point to is an interview dotted with halftruths by someone who by his own admission "can not give the official position of ASUU" and you think thats enough to base an argument on? I've had a very good day please dont ruin it with your nonsense.

You told me your 'facts' Facts conjured from the pit of hell or your sick mind Facts that you cannot substantiate How pathetic!