The Federal Government expressed surprise yesterday at the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) plan to extend its two-month strike by another 12 weeks.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, Ben Goong, Director of Press and Media Relations for the Federal Ministry of Education, accused ASUU of intimidation and bullying.
Following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the union’s secretariat in Abuja yesterday, ASUU announced its decision.
Some of ASUU’s demands cannot be implemented, according to the director, who described a 2009 agreement between the union and the Federal Government as being reached “at gunpoint.” “When you stay on strike for so long that you won’t call it off until xyz is done,” he said, “it becomes an agreement at gunpoint, in the sense that the government went into signing that agreement in 2009 in an attempt to get kids back to school at all costs.” “This is clearly a gunpoint agreement, and ASUU is following suit.” I don’t believe that going on strike is the only way to solve problems. You may be able to get more than someone who is on strike without going on strike.
“Our reaction is that the three-month extension is excessive. ASUU should call a halt to the strike so that we can negotiate in a calm environment, and whatever agreement we reach will be acceptable to all; not an agreement rammed down someone’s throat before quoting a series of agreements.
“When this agreement was signed in 2009, no one realised the significance of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).”
TETFund invests a minimum of N230 billion in universities every year. It is money, whether it comes from the budget or the TETFUND.”
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to improve infrastructure in the country’s tertiary institutions, TETFund began disbursing direct intervention funds approved by the Presidency to public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in the country yesterday. For the year 2022, N642,848,138 was allocated to each university, N396,780,086 to polytechnics, and N447,758,804 to each college of education in the latest intervention, which is worth several billions of naira.
Sunny Echono, the Fund’s Executive Secretary, presented the allocation papers to heads of beneficiary institutions at the National Universities Commission (NUC). According to Echono, the government’s investment in education stemmed from a desire to develop human capital to serve various sectors of the Nigerian economy. The Fund’s mission is to improve the quality of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions by implementing a two percent (now 2.5 percent) Education Tax on assessable profit of all companies registered in the country.
Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, has also declared the strike illegal.
He said this in Abuja during a speech marking National Productivity Day, which President Buhari will host at the Presidential Villa on Thursday. “When issues are resolved and employees refuse to return to work, it is a violation of labour law,” he said. “University workers are not the only workers in Nigeria,” Ngige said, adding that the ministry has successfully resolved 1,683 cases since he took office. The issue of salary and emolument revision is not solely a concern of the workers. Other groups of workers are fighting for pay raises as well.” Workers who are agitating for a raise in pay have gone to work. Why will university employees differ from other employees?”
A PARENT, Ayo Popoola, believes ASUU and the federal government can work out their differences without victimising students. “This would be the third time the strike has been extended,” he said. This is even a strike of caution. When it becomes indefinite, what do we do? ASUU and the government should not harm children and their parents.”
“Some of our leaders kept saying there is no money in the country,” Femi Fatunbi, a student leader, said, “but the majority of those buying presidential forms are past and current political office holders.” They have no other occupation than politics. They are stealing money at will and enslaving Nigerians.”
Segun Oladeji, the National Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Zone B, accused the Federal Government of insensitivity, questioning why a serious government would not prioritise education.
DURING A PEACEFUL PROTEST in front of the University of Lagos, some students expressed their disappointment, urging the Federal Government to end the impasse.
They sang songs of solidarity and held placards with various inscriptions calling for the strike to end. Femi Adeyeye, speaking on their behalf, said the extension demonstrates the government’s disregard for education.
“We are here out of a genuine desire to tell the government that we are tired of staying at home,” said Emmanuel Ubechukwu, a 400-level Finance student. We were not supported by any interest group or politician. We’ve come here because we really want to get back into the classroom.”
In a statement signed by Olayiwola Folahan Festus (President), Odewale Samuel Damilare (Secretary General), and Ogunperi Taofeek Olalekan, the leadership of the Great Ife Students Union of Obafemi Awolowo University reacted (Public Relations Officer). “We, for the umpteenth time, condemn unequivocally the failure of the Federal Government and its agencies in resolving the concerns of ASUU, such that the previously announced warning strike, which has taken over two months of academic activities away from us, Nigerian students, is on the verge of rebounding as a total and indefinite strike,” the statement reads. “We are, therefore, using this statement to alert the public, particularly Nigerian students, that if the government fails to resolve issues with ASUU in a serious and timely manner, we will be stepping up our efforts with the support of Great Ife students and other Nigerian students who have had enough of the nemesis that this strike has become.”
