“We hope that ASUU will sympathize with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake.” Those were the words from the president of a giant that never was – Nigeria. Funny as it sounds, the “enough” lies with them.
To just fulfil the requirements and
get us back into classrooms. Are you oblivious of the ongoing conflict between
the two parties? Are you yet to know the bone of contention? You don’t know who
to blame at this point? Let’s get down memory lane.
History of ASUU Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities,
ASUU is a union which emerged in the late 70s in replacement of the Nigerian
Association of University Teachers. With its branch across all Federal and
State universities in the country, ASUU is a union that has been in
disagreement with every successive administration in the country for one reason
or the other.
The first-ever experienced ASUU
strike took place in 1988 against the military government for equitable salary
and the autonomy of the Nigerian university. This strike was called off in 1990
and students returned. The second ASUU strike took off in August 1992 and ASUU
was banned for the second time, even though the strike spate through September
1992. Several strike actions took place from 1995 to 1997; however, let’s
consider the latest once – from 1999 till date.
- 1999 ASUU Strike:
A 5-months ASUU strike took place shortly after the inauguration of
Obasanjo as the president.
- 2000 ASUU Strike: In
December 2002, a 2-weeks ASUU strike took place as a result of the failure
of the Obasanjo administration to implement the agreement made with the
union from the last strike action.
- 2003 ASUU Strike: Underfunding
the varsities and low wages and pension led the union to another strike in
2003, lasting more than 5 months.
- 2005 ASUU Strike: A
2 weeks strike took place in 2005 which sent students home as always.
- 2006 ASUU Strike: Preceded
by a 3-day warning strike, the union went on another strike in 2006 which
lasted for seven days.
- 2007 ASUU Strike: As
a result of the failure to implement earlier agreements, the union embarks
on another strike in March 2007 which also took more than two months
before getting called off.
- 2008 ASUU Strike: Attributed
to fair wages and reinstatement of lecturers, the AASUU strike of 2008
lasted for a week.
- 2009 ASUU Strike: You
must have been consistently hearing about this special strike. Of course,
this is the strike that gave birth to the famous “ASUU/FG agreement of
2009” Starting in early June, the strike was called off in late October,
spatting through 5 months.
At this point, we’ve had enough,
let’s just give an overview of others – duration and cause (if available)
- 2010 ASUU Strike: Took
place for more than four months (July to January 2011)
- 2011 ASUU Strike: December
2011 – February 2012 (more than a month)
- 2013 ASUU Strike: As
a result of retirement age, university funding, and other salient demands
the 2013 strike lasted five months.
- 2017 ASUU Strike: August
– September (a month) due to unresolved issues.
- 2018 ASUU Strike: Indefinite
strike, starting in 208 and ending in February 2019 due to the inability
of the government to meet the union’s demand.,
- 2019 ASUU Strike: You
must remember this special one too. Yes! The one that comes with the
Covid-19 pandemic. Started in March 2020 and ended in December 2020 as a
result of the IPPIS platform, poor university funding, and other pressing
matters.
- 2022 ASUU Strike: Now,
the one they say is enough. Started on February 14, 2022, and described as
“extensive and thorough”, the 2022 ASUU is exactly the way it was
described. The strike I
The strike actions over the years
have dwarfed the academic calendars of our federal and state universities
across the country. Then, who exactly do we blame for this?
Who to blame for ASUU Strike
“We despise seeing our students at
home. We don’t want our academic schedules to be interrupted, but our
expectations aren’t being satisfied.”
Those were the words of the ASUU
president when he announced the ongoing strike.
According to Dennis (@awajis.com)
quoting the National Association of Universities Teachers (1978), the previous
strike actions have always been due to failure to pay the necessary wages and
allocations, underfunding of the universities, inadequate infrastructures,
deterioration of university autonomy and academic freedom, poor remuneration
framework and allowances, and mismanagement of universities.
Most of these, of course, is to be
blamed on the government. Giving fairness a chance, however, the labour union
has been acting way too far. The mismanagement of allocated funds and its
dictatorial tendencies has been reportedly the cause of some of these strikes.
Yet, the question is: Why have
these demands remained insatiable for so long?
The ongoing and
not-appearing-to-end-soon strike, which has now started receiving sympathies
from all corners is reportedly due to the following reasons: IPPIS over UTAS,
2009 agreement which encompasses revitalization of universities, earned
allowance, the better financial backing of state universities, and promotion
arrears.
Before you decide who’s at fault, do
you even know what ASUU is doing regarding the well-being of the students? Are
you aware of the fees proposed by the government which were rejected by this
union?
Generally, ASUU is a trade union
whose objectives include regulation of relations between academic staff and
employers; encouraging the participation of its members in the affairs of the
university system and the nation, protecting and advancement of the
socio-economic and cultural interests of the nation; and ensuring proper Human
Resource Development in Nigerian Universities, among others.
Is enough really enough?
Now, here is our president sympathizing and appealing to the
union to call off the ongoing strike – presently in its 6th month. Is enough
really enough?
After the academic calendar has been
disrupted? After two Jambites have met at the entrance of the universities?
After our prospective graduates are already disappointed? After the academic
activities in the federal universities were halted? What more to say? After
our supposed future leaders are made to stay at home engaging themselves in
whatever they can lay their hands on?
Enough is never enough!
Let the strike continues till we all
get tired. Let the union action continue until there is no one to talk about it
again. Let the strike go on and on until things get out of hand. Let the strike
continue until our scholars are denied a scholarship because they couldn’t
provide their results manuscripts. Then, let’s see what becomes of this
dependent nation.
As described by the eminent scholar,
Professor Farooq Kperogi, the continued ASUU Strike is a Shame on All of Us.
It should be known that “ASUU’s
right to strike ends once the students’ right to education starts!”
Abdulmumin Solihu (+2349129720863)
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