Good morning nairalanders. I am back once again to expose the fallacious basis of the incessant strikes that have ruined our educational system. I had earlier written on a similar topic few weeks ago (please check my topics), where I described the ASUU as a fraud. And I stand by that. Right from time, many of ASUU's demands to govt have been based on fallacious grounds, caused by Stupid reasoning. And I will expose that today. Hence my title- argumentum ad stupiduntum.

You see, there is always time to fight and fight well and there is time to wait and watch. There is also time to consider others and the country, and by so doing, you retain the goodwill you have earned. Unfortunately, ASUU does not think that way.

As we speak, Nigeria has almost lost one academic session because the ASUU leadership are unreasonable & inconsiderate. Also note that only the tertiary education system is always paralysed because of silly strikes. The primary and secondary systems run almost uninterrupted calendars, even though they also need support and attention. And am happy that the President has approved a new salary structure for teachers. They deserve it but more still needs to be done in the areas of facilities, supervision and monitoring of teaching standard.

Back to the tertiary level.

Before I dissect the university strikes, let me explain the foundational fabric of the Nigerian and global education system.

In Nigerian universities, there are three (3) major stakeholders- the Students, the Government, and the Staff (academic and non-academic). ... And the fabric of interaction among the three goes like this- the "students get training" from the "government set-up educational system" which is run by "staff".

Now the foregoing delineates the roles of the 3 stakeholders... and I expatiate further.

(A) The government establishes an educational objective; sets up and equips academic institutions and associated supervisory agencies....
(B) ... to train its citizens in accordance with its national educational objectives.....
(C) ... and employs staff/lecturers to run the institutions and use the facilities/equipment to provide quality trainning for students, whilst being accountable to the government/employer/owner.

Now, the ASUU is a union of lecturers, hence their responsibility still falls under the (C) group which is- to use the facilities/equipment provided by the government to train the citizens in line with the govt established national objectives.

Having delineated the boundaries of the three stakeholders, let us now assess ASUU's demands within the confines of their responsibilities.

(1) ASUU has mentioned the "proliferation of state universities" as one of the issues in contention.

Please nairalanders, how is the proliferation of state universities the problem of ASUU? Does it affect their teaching duties?

If state universities are defective OR have lower standard or whatever, then that is the responsibility of the govt and its supervisory agencies to correct. The govt set up its national academic objectives for citizens and has the ultimate responsibility of ensuring that the set academic standards are met.

I know for a fact that few state universities churn out poor quality graduates. During my NYSC, 99% of the corpers who couldn't speak good English were graduates of state-owned universities. But that is the fault of the state universities and their poor intake selection process. Many of them admit their indigenes, regardless of suitability. The FG and its Ministry of Education has to act fast and decisively on that.

Nevertheless, ASUU has no right whatsoever to make the Proliferation of State universities its own problem. Academic staff are employed to train students not enforce academic standards or create national academic objectives. So ASUU's position on this matter is fallacious.

(2) ASUU also mentioned the "Constitution of Visitation Panels" as an issue in contention. ...Well yes, as a union of employees, they have a right to demand that the owner/government performs their role, for the betterment of the educational sector... . But is this a valid reason for a Strike? Well, No. It is not a genuine grieviance to warrant a strike.

Visitation panels are fact-finding and tells the government/owner the poor state of their universities.
And if fact, it is a legitimate demand by ASUU, to help the govt see first hand the issues in our universities.

For the govt, how difficult is it to constitute a visitation panel for regular & unscheduled fact finding assessment to universities? There are 200million people, more than enough to go round. But we are a nation led by unserious people in government and it is a shame. Unscheduled visitation panels will make everyone sit up and help the system. The govt must immediately constitute one for all universities and the panels should put the universities on their toes.

But hey, if there are no visitation panels, does it stop ASUU members from teaching? Why has ASUU arrogated to itself the responsibility of ensuring that the university system works perfectly? It is the govt's responsibility to ensure that the system it created operates smoothly. It is the govts responsibility to ensure the right checks and balances are done.

But like I said, whilst it is a legitimate and well intentioned demand by ASUU; it is not a valid greviance to warrant a strike by ASUU.
As an example, it is not ASUU's fight, if I don't visit my own establishment.
University autonomy does not make ASUU the owners of our universities.

(C) Another issue in contention is the "Revitalization of Universities".
.... Yes, as lecturers who use the facilities and equipment in the universities, ASUU has the right to demand their revitalization. But also remember that the facilities belong to the govt. Lecturers only have the right to USE them.

Let me be clear here, to "demand for revitalization" is not the same as to "take responsibility for fighting" for revitalization. Like every other thing, ASUU has lost my sympathy on this one.

Continuing, all sectors need revitalization. And revitalization is progressive. It is not something that can be achieved with one stroke. Revitalization is work in progress. Hence for ASUU to make this a reason to shut down universities is bluntly Evil. ASUU has no right to make revitalization its own fight. They do not own the facilities, hence can't fight for it. As users of the facilities, lecturers can rightly demand and protest but cannot pick a fight against the owners of the universities or attempt to force a revitalization, however good it may be.

In addition, as a graduate of a Nigerian university; I can confidently say that the rot in facilities is attributable to the lack of maintenance by the universities themselves. It is not govts fault that facilities or equipment are not maintained and refurbished. Universities plan their budgets and can make provision for maintenance fund and they would get it. But am not sure they do that. Everything is not govts fault. The universities themselves can budget to buy equipment and maintain facilities. The govt does not plan universities budget nor spend their money for them.

Furthermore, I watched my hostel rot away at Uni, whilst the hostel warden hardly ever came to work. His office was the first room in the building, but was shut most times. I saw him occassionally and he never was interested in maintaining his allocated hostel. Yet, he earned salary. And there was a Dean of Student Affairs who has ultimate responsibility for the hostels and whose job was to supervise the hostel wardens. He never did that. He spent time chasing big breasted girls. He always has girls in his office. So, was the poor hostel govts fault as well. Does ASUU expect the Minister of Education to revitalize my hostel, when the warden and Dean did not do their jobs. This is my real life experience. Is this also govts fault?

So the fact is ASUU is fighting stupidly and selfishly. Nigerians ourselves are the problem of this country. Not just government.

I remember few years ago, ASUU fought for the retirement age of lecturers or Profs to be increased to 70yrs from 65yrs. Can you imagine an employee telling his employer to extend his retirement age. And fighting his employer for that. That tells you how big ASUU has become.

They are now a law unto themselves to fight their employer to extend the retirement age of employees. They claim it would benefit the universities to keep experienced Profs. That is how they row. They hide under nationalism to perpetrate Greed. The battle for better universities is not ASUU's battle. It is the govts responsibility to ensure that its institutions have sufficient skilled Profs. If the govt, through the VC or HOD, feels that a Prof is still needed, he can be put on contract after retirement. It is not for ASUU to make it their fight to extend retirement age to 70yrs. These sorts of demands are the reasons some agreements cannot be implemented by govt.


Back to Revitalization. Revitalization is work in progress. And is not ASUU's responsibility to fight for. They are not the only stakeholders in the uni system. And revitalization will not work until Nigerians change their attitude. ASUU should also take the fight to the universities. Everything is not all govts fault.

(D) About earned allowances, well all employees should be paid quickly for legitimately earned allowances. Except for strikes.

The govt encourages these strikes by still paying lecturers when they don't work. I urge the govt to stop it. You cannot sit at home for six months and come back to ask for salary. No way. This must stop.


(E) About IPPIS, I had written about it. Please see my topics. And I stand by my earlier position. The FG reserves the right to enrol its employees into its chosen system. ASUU cannot change that.

However, before such enrollment can be fair and just, the govt should resolve all issues raised by the universities, else the enrollment will destroy the university system. This does not mean debating with ASUU. The FG did not employ ASUU. It should not even discuss with them.

Let me hereby urge the FG to adjust the IPPIS software to allow for all legitimately earned allowance, e.g., sabatticals. And Stop all unwanted deductions. Housing and healthcare are not by force to cause deductions.

The system should be decentralized to states so that issues can be resolved quickly without travelling to Abuja.

The FG needs to sit down with the Commitee of Registrars and the Commitee of VCs to resolve all their fears about IPPIS. That is the responsible thing to do. Forget ASUU, the govt did not employ ASUU.

Again, please the FG should meet with all Registrars & VCs to resolve all their worries about IPPIS. Salary is a big deal please.

And Universities can create a Fund to cover other payment aspects not covered by IPPIS. And the fund should be audited annually. The problem is that our lecturers lack ideas. There is a way around everything, if only they think properly.

But on IPPIS I stand.

ASUU's talk of IPPIS being foreign is shallow. It is not ASUU's responsibility to enforce local content in software systems. It was never about foreign or local. It was about money.

In conclusion, lecturers should focus on their core responsibility of providing trainning to students as explained in (C) above. That is their job under the Nigerian educational fabric. Their job is not to pick fights with the owners of universities nor arrogate to themselves the responsibility of fighting for the institutions they don't own.

University autonomy grants academic and operational freedom to universities, which is good. However, it does not alter the fact that the Govts owns and funds the universities. Nor does it make employees become boss over employer.

Education, like all other sectors is "Work in Progress" and all hands are needed to reach the promise land. Comparing Nigeria to "abroad" universities is silly. Nigeria is a young nation of 60 years. In contrast, University of Durham is over 180 years, Chicago is 130 years and even the University of Pretoria is almost 100 years. Such comparison is very shallow and has no basis.

Please lecturers should stop being silly and focus on their core mandate of training students, that they were employed for. Manage and maintain whatever facilities the govt has provided for now, and try your best whilst awaiting improvements. Not arrogating to yourselves the war against the owners of institutions and creators of systems.

I hope we now know the "fallacy of stupidity" in ASUU's strikes, which has done more harm than good to our country.

hmmmm

And this guy sat down to write this long epistle just to pre-empt tomorrow's meeting?
By the way, why is OP putting this in politics section? This is an education section topic!
Of course, we know the reason, he wants maximum attention.

Wow, bombshell...

Hmmm.

sinkhole:
And this guy sat down to write this long epistle just to pre-empt tomorrow's meeting?
By the way, why is OP putting this in politics section? This is an education section topic!
Of course, we know the reason, he wants maximum attention.

What are your thoughts about the Op's article ?

OK.
We'll see the outcome of their meeting tomorrow.

op next time try and summarise your point... you not working for a print or newspaper organization... this is social media where we are been bombarded with information and if you don't get it making your point short and precise you will get people bored so fast, and its just a swipe to move on to the next interesting article....
anyway got your point... I only pity those student, you can't buy back time they have wasted at home... I hope the smart ones will use this time to acquire some skills...

Was ippis the agreement with government in 2009?

This is apt. I think this should be put a recognized national daily. The whole Nigeria need to read this.
ASUU is being selfish

In a saner clime, academic activities is always smooth and seamless... I'm so sad for this country

Was ippis the agreement with government in 2009?

see epistle o

People above and below... Can someone please summarize this for me?

DenreleDave:
People above and below... Can someone please summarize this for me?

Thread is for educated people, for lovers of the academia.

Fineman87:

(1) ASUU has mentioned the "proliferation of state universities" as one of the issues in contention.
Please nairalanders, how is the proliferation of state universities the problem of ASUU? Does it affect their teaching duties?

Nevertheless, ASUU has no right whatsoever to make the Proliferation of State universities its own problem. Academic staff are employed to train students not enforce academic standards or create national academic objectives. So ASUU's position on this matter is fallacious

Proliferation of universites ASUU is complaining about its not about state universites. FG over the years has been establishing universites up and down while the existing ones are barely surviving.
Why add to the existing load
Most times, these universites are established to score politically and the government would still not employ capable hands to run these institutions. So everything still falls back to these experieced lecturers to take up visitations/or employed on contract basis.

(2) ASUU also mentioned the "Constitution of Visitation Panels" as an issue in contention. ...Well yes, as a union of employees, they have a right to demand that the owner/government performs their role, for the betterment of the educational sector... . But is this a valid reason for a Strike? Well, No. It is not a genuine grieviance to warrant a strike.

Please it calls for serious concern. If FG refused to visit these institutions thereby making it seems what the union is saying about dilapidated infrastructures are mere exaggeration. It is a serious problem.

(C) Another issue in contention is the "Revitalization of Universities".
.... Yes, as lecturers who use the facilities and equipment in the universities, ASUU has the right to demand their revitalization. But also remember that the facilities belong to the govt. Lecturers only have the right to USE them

You are very funny. When i work in a company that doesn't provide necessary equipments to make me work effectively and efficiently, i have the right to demand for better equipments/tools/better Working conditions. Especially when people start complaining about my products and services. Like in the labour market, employers are complaining about our graduates already, that we are not EMPLOYABLE until we are trained again.
Lecturers have the right to demand for better working environment!!
Nobody will blame FG when a graduate doesn't meet expectations, they all blame lecturers/institutions.
So yea, ASUU is right.

Back to Revitalization. Revitalization is work in progress. And is not ASUU's responsibility to fight for. They are not the only stakeholders in the uni system. And revitalization will not work until Nigerians change their attitude. ASUU should also take the fight to the universities. Everything is not all govts fault.

Yes, you have a point about taking the fight to the school management. But let FG do their part too(ASUU were employed by FG). School management should be check mate by SUG(. another Major stake holder not ASUU) about maintenace of their hostels, lecture halls and other stuffs that concerns them directly.
Everybody has their role to play.
ASUU engaging FG.
SUG engaging school management.
FG doing their part.
In the end, we are all happy.

(D) About earned allowances, well all employees should be paid quickly for legitimately earned allowances. Except for strikes.

FG should learn to engage them before they decide to go on strike. Do you think ASUU will just wakeup and strike They do send letters upon letters to remind FG about their agreement but FG always ignore. So it seems FG usually answers civil servants only when they strike or about to strike depending on how it affects FG(NMA,JOHESU,NLC,ASUU,PENGASSAN and other unions) all comes to mind.
FG should pay their earned allowance. It is their right!

(E) About IPPIS, I had written about it. Please see my topics. And I stand by my earlier position. The FG reserves the right to enrol its employees into its chosen system. ASUU cannot change that.

I don't really have any problem with IPPIS as long as they adjust it to meet the requirements of the university system. But has FG done anything like that Your answer is as good as mine.
If IPPIS is that easy to adjust, i don't think it will be an issue. Health unions directed their workers not to enroll in IPPIS until every peculiarities about them were captured.
Let FG do the same for ASUU or accept UTAS case closed!

Universities can create a Fund to cover other payment aspects not covered by IPPIS. And the fund should be audited annually. The problem is that our lecturers lack ideas. There is a way around everything, if only they think properly.

Funds from where?
Students/parents? To increase fees will spell Doom for the government.
or to attract funds from companies(which is only possible when these universites are standard and produce quality research contents that are useful).
Who told you our lecturers do not have ideas?
Do you know how much they achieve anytime they find themselves outside the shores of this country. Its just like saying nigerian graduates cannot think when you know our graduates do better in a working environment.

Your conclusion is biased and in the end, i will say you are a product of our failed educational system that this same FG has failed to address. FG needs to take education serious. If not we will continue to produce jokes called graduates.

ASUU is not a perfect union. But the university has been improving because of that same union. If education is part of FG's top priority, I'm sure everyother stake holder(ASUU and students) will also sit up. In a company, if the CEO doesn't make the company's goal a top priority, everyother person in that company can only hope to do much.

samuelpeters:

Proliferation of universites ASUU is complaining about its not about state universites. FG over the years has been establishing universites up and down while the existing ones are barely surviving.
Why add to the existing load
Most times, these universites are established to score politically and the government would still not employ capable hands to run these institutions. So everything still falls back to these experieced lecturers to take up visitations/or employed on contract basis.


Please it calls for serious concern. If FG refused to visit these institutions thereby making it seems what the union is saying about dilapidated infrastructures are mere exaggeration. It is a serious problem.


You are very funny. When i work in a company that doesn't provide necessary equipments to make me work effectively and efficiently, i have the right to demand for better equipments/tools/better Working conditions. Especially when people start complaining about my products and services. Like in the labour market, employers are complaining about our graduates already, that we are not EMPLOYABLE until we are trained again.
Lecturers have the right to demand for better working environment!!
Nobody will blame FG when a graduate doesn't meet expectations, they all blame lecturers/institutions.
So yea, ASUU is right.


Yes, you have a point about taking the fight to the school management. But let FG do their part too(ASUU were employed by FG). School management should be check mate by SUG(. another Major stake holder not ASUU) about maintenace of their hostels, lecture halls and other stuffs that concerns them directly.
Everybody has their role to play.
ASUU engaging FG.
SUG engaging school management.
FG doing their part.
In the end, we are all happy.


FG should learn to engage them before they decide to go on strike. Do you think ASUU will just wakeup and strike They do send letters upon letters to remind FG about their agreement but FG always ignore. So it seems FG usually answers civil servants only when they strike or about to strike depending on how it affects FG(NMA,JOHESU,NLC,ASUU,PENGASSAN and other unions) all comes to mind.
FG should pay their earned allowance. It is their right!


I don't really have any problem with IPPIS as long as they adjust it to meet the requirements of the university system. But has FG done anything like that Your answer is as good as mine.
If IPPIS is that easy to adjust, i don't think it will be an issue. Health unions directed their workers not to enroll in IPPIS until every peculiarities about them were captured.
Let FG do the same for ASUU or accept UTAS case closed!


Funds from where?
Students/parents? To increase fees will spell Doom for the government.
or to attract funds from companies(which is only possible when these universites are standard and produce quality research contents that are useful).
Who told you our lecturers do not have ideas?
Do you know how much they achieve anytime they find themselves outside the shores of this country. Its just like saying nigerian graduates cannot think when you know our graduates do better in a working environment.

Your conclusion is biased and in the end, i will say you are a product of our failed educational system that this same FG has failed to address. FG needs to take education serious. If not we will continue to produce jokes called graduates.

ASUU is not a perfect union. But the university has been improving because of that same union. If education is part of FG's top priority, I'm sure everyother stake holder(ASUU and students) will also sit up. In a company, if the CEO doesn't make the company's goal a top priority, everyother person in that company can only hope to do much.

Am sorry, but Op is more rational and sophisticated than you are. Proliferation of universities is not ASUU's problem. Their job is to teach, simple.
Other things you wrote are just inferior to Op,

olawalepopoola:
This is apt. I think this should be put a recognized national daily. The whole Nigeria need to read this.
ASUU is being selfish

.

AfricanSonDave:


Am sorry, but Op is more rational and sophisticated than you are. Proliferation of universities is not ASUU's problem. Their job is to teach, simple.
Other things you wrote are just inferior to Op,

Alright.

We would continue here.