CAN ASUU CEASE TO EXIST ?

CAN ASUU CEASE TO EXIST ?

Academic Staff Union Of University has been in struggle for more than 4 decades after being banned and proscribed by the then 'military government' on the dice to obtain Fair Wages, University Autonomy. As they keep reaching unfulfilled agreements, so the demands grow, then comes the revitalization of rotted structures and the age of retirement, still raised and unfulfilled, then the IPPIS--did ASUU ask for much ?

It is said that political activist gets active when s/he has no power at hand, Muhammadu Buhari for instance won the election on the platter of three agendas: economy, corruption, insecurity; and when he won for the second term, he reiterated his stand on Education, that he would be prioritizing the sector adding more allocation to the sector; knowing that a deplorable education in place and the plans to achieve national goals is seen as delusion in a country of few educated individuals.

On assuming the mantle of power, Buhari appointed cabinets, offering Adamu Adamu an 'educational activist' ministry of education as portfolio. One begins to wonder, was it not the same Adamu Adamu who said in his column titles 'Why ASUU Is Always On Strike' on 15 Nov 2013 "This nation owes a debt of gratitude to ASUU and the strike should not be called off until the government accepts to do—and does—what is required. This is why ASUU is always on strike". And now he is saddled with the responsibility to ensure he clears the ground for FG and Nigerian students because, back then he knew ASUU was not working for their purses alone, what then changes the narrative ?

The argument that ASUU members should dive into politics so that if they grab power, they would pave the ground for smooth running for tertiary institutions. Adamu before was conferred the presidential power, he had the vivid understanding of the ASUU demands; from the paltry budgetary allocation, earned allowances, Revitalization request etc…  but on assuming duty, he wore a dark eye glass setting aside and leave ASUU to fight alone, he has tested this prove to be abortive. 

Government from its side insists that an employer cannot dictate how he should be paid. Thereby introducing the IPPIS that every employer must enroll in the system--which ASUU raised an alarm that the system left out much of its incentives and developed its own UTAS. This is a derogatory impression to the academic field---if tertiary education is taken with the seriousness it deserves; to negotiate on the ground of payments depicts that government is showcasing high level of incompetence from the negotiators representing the government.

The strike is the last resort ASUU finds working to drag the government's attention, which parents and students see as a deliberate attempt to subvert their academic progress on the one hand and a subterranean method to establish private universities on the other. This of course draws the demarcation line between the elite [political class], the middle class and the common man, each taking its position on affordable tertiary education, the elites who are political class going abroad on the taxpayers money, middle class enrolling in private universities both which have a smooth ride with no interruption and the common man in public universities leaving them at the mercy of ASUU for annual academic interruption.  

Every agreement reached between ASUU and FG, ASUU is always at the pardon end, it considers the white promises made by the government and the outcry from the public domain and resumes strikes. This has always been the tradition. The last ASUU strike that accumulated a whole academic session in 2020 as if there was no government in the country which FG paid no concern upon until the EndSars crisis that scare the Government's attention to call the ASUU on the negotiating table, that was the maneuver used by government on seeing the turmoil that was about to strike, ASUU still accepted and conditionally called off strike which till today government has not fulfilled its own part.

The strike does not make any impact any longer, students are at the receiving end of the strike unleashment. Since the children of the political class are not in the system and pay no attention to the condition on the ground, this megalomaniac tendency is only exercised when in power. What is now left for ASUU is to brainstorm and put forth another medium to call the government to action or ASUU should cease to exist ? 

A student opinion at the North East ASUU zonal hearing held in Gombe State University in 2020, which was later published by TheNation newspaper. After listening to the steps by steps of moves made by ASUU before reaching to the peak which is strike, the student proffered that, it appears the government delegations are not feeding back to Mr President the outcome of any meeting held, both Education minister and Labour minister are sabotaging the whole process.

He then stated, if ASUU should draft its own demands and submit to the first-class traditional rulers in the country, the likes of Alaafin of Oyo, Oni Of Ife, Alake of Egba, Olu of Warri, Obi of Onitsha, Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano and Zazzau and the Mai Borno since they are the chancellors of those universities and there wouldn't be a barricade if they wish to see the President. As the popular Yoruba saying, 'if heaven does not descend down to meet Muhammed, then Muhammed would ascend to meet heaven. They should meet him and  submit those requests to him. Since He pledged to prioritize education, here are the demands.

This whole dancing forth and back that the government is making jest of, is tantamount to playing with the future of the country and the unborn generation who are meeting a rickety system of the sector that pays no value to the outcome of such retribution. Primary and Secondary sectors have decayed already barely producing daft graduates which tertiary institutions have taken the same route, leaving ASUU alone to fight this struggle who have lost strength to withstand this government attitude, is uncalled for, all hands must be on deck to revive and safe education from falling apart.

Ahmad Murtala

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com