The current strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU began on the first of July 2013 and it will be 116 days old today and still no end in sight. The context of the strike is virtually lost to many Nigerians in the avalanche of claims and counter claims by ASUU and the government and accusations levied against ASUU by the multitude of groups that have been mustered by the federal government of Nigeria.
A quick glimpse at ASUU's Press Conference on the indefinite Strike Suspension October 23, 2009 will refocus our attention on the subject matter. During that press conference, the ASUU chairman, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie listed areas of agreement to include (1) funding, (2) conditions of service, (3) university autonomy and academic freedom and (4) other matters.
For four years, the government has failed to make provision for the implementation of the agreement in the national budget citing forgetfulness as an excuse, succinctly demonstrating their "great love" for the Nigerian educational system.
During most of this time, the former minister Professor Ruquayat Ahmed Rufa'I held sway as the minister of education (6th April 2010-11th September 2013). But such lame excuses cannot absolve the government from the consequences of the act of gross negligence, incompetence or sabotage committed against the Nigerian nation and people. The chivalrous struggle of ASUU to stop the free fall of the Nigerian educational system into the abyss has pitched it against powerful forces in the political circles.
However, it must be stated categorically that haven signed an agreement; the onus is on the government to fulfill her part of the contractual obligation. Begging or cajoling or intimidation or any other method the government may apply to cause ASUU to abandon the agreement remains an exercise in futility. It will only plunge the educational system further into darkness and ultimately extinguish the hope of the ordinary Nigerian to rise above the oppression of the ruling class. The only way out of poverty is a sound education that liberates the mind from the shackles of ignorance to explore the boundaries of a brand new world of unlimited possibilities.
Mr. President, you were once on this side of the divide as a village boy without shoes, but have now been transformed through the magical powers of education to become the president of the most populous black African nation on earth. This agreement is the first step to giving the other Nigerians like you and me the same opportunity to become the master of our world that we were created to be. Awarding useless university certificates to our youngsters is an insult to their intelligence and a rape of their potentials and aspirations and a condemnation to perpetual slavery.
ASUU will not buckle under the threat of parents, who would rather purchase a certificate for their children than go through the rigours of the academics. Neither will they balk from students who threaten them with untold consequences if they fail to return to the classrooms. We have grown used to such tactics in the course of duty already. Indeed, some among our ranks have paid the supreme price for daring to stand against those who now threaten us publicly without repercussion. Others have been maimed physically or emotionally for life in the process.
We are not beggars at the gate of government house on whom you would set your curs, but important stake holders in the nations educational system. I know that there are no deviants among us who will grovel at your feet for the crumbs. There is a lot of work to be done still! Your predecessor under whom you served as Vice President hired a professional broker who "midwifed" the original agreement. Maybe you need the services of competent midwifes to effect implementation of the agreement you helped to reach then.
The labour unions have asked to mediate in this dispute but you have not responded; maybe you consider them birds of the same feather with ASUU. Our good old comrade governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole is still there and I guess he is willing to step in once more for the sake of the nation; if he did it before, he can do it again. It takes real courage for a man to admit that he needs help. What is going on now is counterproductive.
By all reckonings, a semester is already lost. The nation is bleeding, Nigerians are crying, but an agreement has been signed and sealed. Be strong enough to negotiate a realistic and acceptable implementation schedule with precise timelines and convincing confidence building measures; that is what we need now. These unilateral offers are irritating to say the least. And please restrain those your political aids/appointees who by their utterances simply call us fools. The time to act is now!
