Formed in 1978 as a successor to the Nigerian Association of University Teachers, one of ASUU’s earliest and popular union exercises came in 1988. In 1988, the union organised a National Strike to get fair wages and university autonomy. Sadly, 32 years down the line, the struggle for a fair wage of university staff and autonomy of the university still continues.
- ASUU has embarked on a strike 15 times since 1999;
- Government’s reaction to ASUU’s demands shows its level of commitment to education in the country;
- ASUU has always made demands for proper university funding in every strike action for the past 32 years;
- It has become a norm for the government to agree with workers after many strikes only to abandon the implementation half way;
- National change can only start with prioritising institutions of higher learning, with lecturers being the end point.
ASUU Strike: a three-decade battle of attrition
While news of the seven month long ASUU strike has been gracing the front pages, it has been a three decade long battle of attrition. And although the federal government (FG) kept changing the goal post, their (ASUU) demands stayed true. What do they want? Better funding for universities, refusal to share ₦30 billion earned allowance with other university unions, and autonomy for a salary payment platform.
Historically, the first two demands have been on the table over the years; the request for salary autonomy, however, is a recent demand. Speaking of salaries, ASUU opted to use its developed University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) platform, over government-mandated Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). ASUU based its refusal first on FG contravening the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2003; second was the inefficiency of the IPPIS.
On the flip side, like any war with acceptable losses, the ASUU revolt has seen its fair share of casualties- students. Not only do these revolts upturn their academic calendars, but the implications of months of idleness is dire. Not to mention the effect these constant punctuations from strikes have on the learning process. This contributes to the negative consensus of Nigerian graduates being ill-equipped vis-à-vis Western counterparts. And further exacerbates the recruitment dilemma employers face.
ASUU Strike: certain as clockwork
In a press statement published by Punch, the National President, ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi maintained that the union’s course was noble. Urging for Nigerians to be patient, the statement added the strike was to ensure better education for the children of indigents. Adding that delay resulted from the government’s insistence on using the IPPIS over ASUU’s UTA system.
But what’s perhaps moot is the frequency of ASUU strikes; it’s almost become religion. In fact, throughout the military era of 1978 to 1996, ASUU warred on the struggles around conditions of service and underfunding. The body also championed for issues like university authority/academic freedom and the right to education.
Timeline of Strikes
Civil rule under the Fourth Republic spelled hope of a better education system. But 15 strikes within 21 years of democracy show otherwise. And within the period, teachers have stayed away from work for about 45 months and 2 weeks. Besides the certainty of these strikes, ASUU’s demands never changed; it’s always been for better funding and remuneration of due salaries to lecturers.
Concessions: A history of failed promises from the Government
By and large, the recurrence of these strikes with the same demands serve as an indictment to several governments past. And although many negotiations ensued between both parties, the “ASUU strike staple” goes to show the level of commitment the Nigerian government has for education. In fact, it has become a norm for the government to willingly enter into agreements with workers, only to abandon implementation half way.
In a report published by the Guardian, Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, noted that “the unsolvable problem that has resulted to incessant strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is that a government in this country went and sat down with ASUU to make an agreement on some conditions that it would pay universities ₦1.3 trillion.”
The minister stressed the pact was unrealistic ab initio. He stated: “There is nowhere ₦1.3 trillion will come out from.”
Similarly, in 2013, there was a reported dismissive claim by the minister of labour and productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, to the effect of the 2009 agreement between ASUU and the FGN being unfeasible.
Moving forward
This calls for the government to own up to its responsibility by being sincere with the citizenry at all levels; and finally address reoccurring demands for better funding of and fair wages once and for all.
In the end, if knowledge is power, then institutions of higher learning are power stations. Thus, the government’s priority in its universities and lecturers needs to change. Also crucial is understanding how education intersects with the economy and health of a country. When Nigeria has such a significant change, then we would truly see change. And not just the superficial symptom hunting, we’d be going for the root cause. Or is the change mantra dead because elections are over?