Strike in the Nigerian university system is no doubt a major setback that has placed Nigerian universities at a disadvantage, nationally and internationally. Just between 1999 and 2012, the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) has embarked on strike actions for a number of academic sessions. Again, the union went on strike on July 1, 2013, and this time around, the union is ready to lock horns until the government is ready to engender a radical change into the system.
Nigerian universities slipped into a
fresh all time low with Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) back
in the trenches. Reviews of diverse public opinions and various
discourses point to the fact that neither ASUU nor President Goodluck
Jonathan is the enemy in the current imbroglio. The stage for the
present national cultural policy of ‘anti-intellectualism’, which has
shaped Nigeria education tragically, was set over two decades ago. The
list of problems in our universities is endless; but infrastructure
decay, as a result of inadequate funding, demotivated teachers, cultism
and corruption in different shades and poor administration, is most
evident.
For a year and half, there seemed to be
relative stability within the education system, which most Nigerians
were grateful for. But this hope was abruptly brought to an end, when
ASUU decided to embark on another indefinite strike. Items in the
contentious FG-ASUU 2009 agreement as published
include: Funding requirements for the revitalization of the
Universities; Federal Government assistance to State Universities;
establishment of Nigerian University Pension Management Committee
(NUPEMCO); progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to
education to 26 per cent between 2009 and 2020; Earned Allowances.
Others are: amendment of the pension/retirement age of academics on the
professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years; re-instatement of prematurely
dissolved governing councils; transfer of federal government landed
property to universities; setting up of Research Development
Council/provision of Research Equipment to Laboratories and classrooms
in the universities.
Nigerians agree that ASUU has always
been the most perceptible voice drawing attention to the decay in the
universities. However, frequent disruptions of the academic calendars in
a bid to fight for uplift in the education system, make ASUU look more
like an undertaker conducting the burial rites of the already comatose
university system.
Several reactions from stakeholders in
the education sector and concerned Nigerians have continued to trail
ASUU’s recurrent clash with the Federal Government concerning funding
for Nigerian universities. It is no longer news that the Nation has been
grappling with dilapidated teaching infrastructure.
While most Nigerians agree with ASUU on
the need for increased funding, some actually wonder if the current
proposition by the universities lecturers is realistic and sustainable
in the face of dwindling resources and belligerent socio-economic
challenges. “ASUU’s proposition doesn’t seem holistic to me,” said a
vice chancellor who pleaded for anonymity. “Even if FG meets the current
demands, how does this fit into the overall picture in terms of
national priorities, essentially, security issues and lack of
electricity? Even if the universities are provided with world class
equipment, would any student attend school where terrorist unleash
violence on students?” “What would become of undergraduates admissions
if the average failure rate of WAEC remained 74% and 75% as recorded in
2010 and 2011 respectively?” he further queried.
Similarly, another respondent also
suggested that, “rather than continue with a trade union dispute
approach, which smacks of brinkmanship, ASUU should consider solutions
that would be all encompassing; the type that would address all tiers of
education. ASUU should mobilize a joint action to salvage education as
the effect of poor enrolment in primary schools would definitely
manifest later at the tertiary level.”
On the other hand, most members of the
academic community interrogated in the course of compiling this report
concluded that there is need for parents, students and other
stakeholders to join voices with that of ASUU, as the current situation
of tertiary education in Nigeria is a potpourri of confusion. Conceptual
fluctuations are particularly rampant in the overall tertiary system.
Private universities are apparently flourishing at the peril of
government owned institutions, considering the fact that the ‘body of
knowledge’ now resident in these private institutions is fully grown at
government expense. Proofs abound to buttress the argument that FG’s
approaches to solving most of the problems highlighted by ASUU have
often been sporadic and misdirected. It is hard to explain the recent
establishment of 12 additional Federal universities or incubating the
idea of Mega Universities, each of which is expected to admit up to
200,000 students, when existing universities are grossly understaffed
and in various states of disrepair.
Various arguments posed in respect of
the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement deadlock, notwithstanding, strong
institutional framework for the education of young Nigerians cannot be
built by refusing to confront issues that have continued to mortgage
learning. Though it is true that students and their parents bear the
brunt of ASUU’s suspension of classes, however, suggesting that there
are other ways of getting the Federal Government to act, without going
on strike is, “playing the ostrich”. It is pertinent to ask what the
Federal Government did about the Needs Assessment Report, submitted in
November 2012, besides setting up another committee to review it. Would
the government have taken further action had ASUU not engaged in a
full-blown strike? Though unconfirmed, there are claims that the
original report itself has not even been made available to the
university authorities till date.
In an exclusive interview with Nigeria
Spur in Abuja, the President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge said, “We were
able to wind-up the negotiation in October 2009, precisely, and our
expectation was that, having put so much into that document, government
will just go ahead to implement the agreement…it is sad to know that
till date, none of this has been implemented…this was what enraged our
members, when we realized that they were not really interested in
implementing the agreement, the MoU and even the Needs Assessment
Report. Then, our members decided to embark on strike actions”
In the same vein, the Chairman of ASUU
Unilag Chapter, Dr.Karo Ogbinaka revealed that ASUU has written over 200
letters and held over 60 meetings with government. He said that failure
on the part of the government to implement the agreement was a
deliberate act.
Until there is a collective agitation by
all, like it was with the ‘fuel price hike’ protest of January, 2012,
the importance of education would remain colourful themes of
conferences, summits and seminars. There is a need to compile empirical
facts and do away with the cliché-like ‘problem statements’ of ‘poor
funding’. It is high time the Nation considered a global Need
Assessment, so as to understand the full scope of funding issues.
President Goodluck Jonathan and other members of his cabinet would score
high points responding with an all-inclusive national action, by
addressing all issues full-frontal as sincerely as possible. The
education sector would remain on this journey that leads to nowhere by
providing for ASUU today, to wake up to cries from Non-Academic Staff
Union (NASU) the next day, with Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) beating
the drums of war. Certainly, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria
Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists
(NAAT) and other trade unions are also waiting in the wings.
The current government parades an array
of professors and former ASUU members: Prof. Mrs. Viola Onwuliri,
Minister of State Foreign Affairs; Prof. Chinedu Osita Nebo, Minister of
Power; Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health and the Minister of
Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, not to forget the fact that the
President was also a former lecturer; the academe is a constituency well
represented. It follows that President Goodluck Jonathan’s government
understands fully, the dilemma and challenges of the universities and
should therefore bring to bear positive influence at ensuring that
matters relating to education, are given the deserved attention, devoid
of the usual political gerrymandering.
source:here
What exactly is going on with the citadels of the four walls of Nigeria Education?. how can Nigeria; one of the major heavy weights in African Economy cub this ugly menace which has eating deep into the Nations Educational system.?
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