Recurring ASUU-Federal Government disagreement

Recently, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on a one week warning strike. According to the union, the strike is sequel to the non-implementation of the 2009 agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the union and the Federal Government.

Under the ‘Payment of fractions of staff entitlements’, ASUU said, “The 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement Implementation Committee had submitted a report of the outstanding balance of N65, 833, 047,372.24 (2009-2013) plus N62, 417‚645‚224.23 (2014-2016), amounting to an unpaid balance of N128‚250‚692‚596.47.

This was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and ASUU, in order to resolve the crisis of June-November, 2013. We are sad at this development, considering that over the years, the Federal Government and ASUU had been engaged in running battles over the implementation of agreements on the funding of the country’s public universities.

Incidentally, the consequence is the steady decline in infrastructural development in particular and academic learning in general. We recall that the present cause of disagreement stems from the refusal of the Federal Government to still honour its part of the deal.

It would also be recalled that the former president of ASUU, Professor Festus Iyayi, was involved in a fatal car accident along the Lokoja/Abuja highway, while leading ASUU team to the negotiation with the federal authorities. It would be unfortunate and disservice to academic learning if the universities embark on another round of indefinite strike to call attention to the non-implementation of agreements reached by both parties.

Nigerians need not be reminded, especially parents and students of the severe dislocation to academic studies should any untoward action be taken by the universities to force implementation.

Strike actions have contributed significantly to the decline in the quality of graduates of our public universities as students are hurried with lectures as soon as strike actions are called off. As a result of hurried academic calendars, little attention is paid to research, which is an important component of academic pursuits. Is it any wonder that our public universities have continued to go down the ladder of academic ranking, even among their peers in Africa?

Under funding of the education sector, over the years, has had collateral effect on the country. Our universities, hitherto exemplary centres of excellence that attracted scholars from far and near, have now become grotesque carcasses of their former selves. A government that cannot stand by what it pledged is inviting chaos in the citadels of higher learning.

We therefore urge both parties to always consider the future of the students and implement the agreed pact. In doing this, the Federal Government should take the initiative as a responsible corporate citizen who respects agreements with other parties and institutions. We say this because disputes with university lecturers and workers had always been due to broken promises and unfilled agreements. Under the present decrepit condition of our university system, expecting well-refined graduates to come out of it is like sowing maize seedlings and expecting to harvest wheat.