ASUU

ASUU STRIKE, ISSUES,POLITICS: FACTS AND ANALYSIS 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement ASUU declared a total, indefinite and comprehensive strike on 4th December 2011 in order to prevail on government to sincerely and judiciously implement the 2009 Agreement it freely entered into with d Union. Specifically, ASUU identified the following key areas that were yet to be implemented: i. Funding requirements for Revitalization of the Nigerian Universities ii. Federal Government Assistance to State Universities iii. Establishment of NUPEMCO iv. Progressive increase in Annual Budgetary Allocation to Education to 26% between 2009 and 2020 v. Earned Allowances vi. Amendment of the Pension/Retirement Age of Academics on the Professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years vii. Reinstatement of prematurely dissolved Governing Councils viii. Transfer of Federal Government Landed Property to Universities ix. Setting up of Research Development Council and Provision of Research Equipment to laboratories and classrooms in our universities. However, the strike was suspended on 2nd February 2012 to pave way for negotiations but the Govt has shown lackadaisical attutude to implementing these agreements. Only 2 of the 9 points av been implemented,those are i.e Vi and Vii.[70 years retirement age and setting up of Governing Council] On July 3, 2013, ASUU proceeded on another indefinite strike to force the Govt implement the agreement and 2 months into the strike, talks has broken down. The reasons are these: i. On the issue of infrastructural facelift, ASUU REQUESTED govt to fund Universities with 100 billion yearly which was AGREED on in the 2009 agreement. But soon after the agreement was signed and the 2009 strike was called off, Govt went to sleep and forgot about the agreement. Thus as at 2013, Govt is supposed to have injected 500 billion to infrastructure uplift in the Universities. Now govt is offering to pay 100 billion with NO promise of when the remaining will be released. Govt has dispensed this 100billion to the schools but we know its a far cry from 500Billion N.B: the 500 billion is not going into Lecturer's account but for the building of lecture theatres, hostels, libraries,e.t.c in our schools. 2. Regarding the earned allowances of lecturers. Its allowance for project supervision, postgraduate supervising, exams invigilation, HOD allowance,Call duty, Project support,e,t,c. It is 12,500 per month which Govt AGREED to start paying from that 2009 when the agreement was signed. Unfortunately, Govt went to sleep and refused to pay the lecturers this their legitimate wages and today, the debt is in excess of 132 billion[i.e accumulated allowances of 4 years ]. ASUU implored govt to pay up 92 billion instead of the 132 billion but govt is only ready to give them 30 billion with NO promise at least of when the remaining will be paid. N.B- the money is for both academic and non- academic staff in our Universities. 3. In this year's budget, Education got a paltry 8% when countries like Ghana, Morocco, S/Africa are funding Education with not less than 20% according to UNESCO's minimum of 26%. Under Yar'adua, education got 12% of the budget but under our friend Jona, it has reduced to 8% and yet they still eat with 1 million at the villa everyday, keep over 10 aircrafts in the presidential jets. Pls, which year are we going to attain 26%. 2099?. Remember,Mandela said ''Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world''. Education is the bedrock of meaningful development and so Govt MUST fund education and must show the sincerity in funding it.. Its a must. These 3 issues are the main crux of the breakdown in talks. Is ASUU's demand for infrastructural facelift not in the interest of Nigerian Students?. If my Dad is owed 4 years allowance in his working place and he proceeds on strike action, wont i support him to get the money he has worked for?...The truth is that lecturers and Non-academic staff deserve this money and they should be paid not one Super Minister Okonjo Iweala making it look like its 30 billion or nothing for ASUU. ASUU has been going on strike in past years and they will reach an agreement with the FG and coupled with sympathy for students, will call of the strike only for the Govt to fail in fulfilling the agreement. Now nobody, no Union in Nigeria today wants to enter into any agreememt with the Nigerian Govt because it is a waste of time. Some of the demands of ASUU i believe are self- seeking.e.g Transfer of FG properties in the states to them and 70 years retirement age,but considering the other demands, Greatest Nigerian Students,the Infrastructure facelift, 26% of the budget to education will ULTIMATELY be in our interest later. It might come with pains now but once we can get it right now, we have gotten it right forever. ASUU has its shortcomings in that its members harass students, demand sexual gratifications from female students,are not dutiful in their work, are members of Universities SDC that recommend expulsion of genuine students activists and many others, but they need to be supported on this their demands and we can negotiate with them on these issues for them to correct it as a token for our support for them. For those who still feel ASUU is greedy and all that, are the Polytechnic teachers also greedy?.they went on strike for 73 days, they reached agreement with FG and the Govt failed in honouring that agreement. Now they are warming up for another strike!.How sad! College of education Lecturers are on a one week warning strike?. Are they also greedy and selfish?.. Nigeria Medical Association[umbrella body for Human doctors] is on its 11th day in its 21 days ultimatum days for govt to meet its demands else, it will proceed on strike action. Are the doctors also selfish?.[i bet the govt will not act until the strike begins and people are dying in the hospitals]. Greatest Nigerian students, lets face the issue, THIS GOVT CANNOT BE TRUSTED IN HONOURING ANY AGREEMENT. They are too dishonourable in that regard. That is why if you must get them, you must be ready to fight to finish. Unfortunately, the Minister for Education has been fired to return back to the classroom and the man in charge of Education, Wike is busy looking for Rotimi Amaechi to punch. I doubt if he trully knows that ASUU is on strike. These are the issues regarding the strike. Your Views are welcomed. Lets discuss what u think of the whole issue