Another ASUU Strike Looms As Lecturers Accuse FG Of Deception ...

Barely two months after the Academic Staff Union
of Universities (ASUU), called off its nearly-six-
month strike, the Nigerian university system may
soon be thrown into another round of crisis.
ASUU yesterday, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital,
alerted the nation of an alleged non-compliance by
the Federal Government with the agreement signed
between both parties, last December, prior to
ASUU’s decision to call off the industrial action.
Accusing the President Goodluck Jonathan
administration of breaching its agreement with the
union, ASUU pleaded with Nigerians to prevail on
the Federal Government to see to the
implementation of the contract, particularly the
aspect that deals with funding of universities, so as
to prevent another round of strikes.
ASUU’s National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu,
who made the appeal on behalf of the union, alleged
that the Federal Government had not kept its own
side of the bargain.
Aremu recalled that the government had promised
to fund universities, but wondered why, despite the
assurances, it was yet to do so.
The Federal Government recently released N200
billion to the universities before ASUU called off
its strike, with an expectation that a total sum of
N1.3 trillion would be released in the next six years.
The resolution was signed between ASUU and the
Federal Government on December 11, 2013, in the
presence of the President of the Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar.
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013, the National
Executive Council (NEC) of the lecturers’ body
resolved to suspend the strike it embarked upon on
July 1, 2013, and directed its members to resume
work forthwith.
Aremu said: “ASUU members are not strike
mongers; our last strike was inevitable, although it
was preventable. Of the N220 billion that the
Federal Government promised to release to our
universities for their development, as we are talking
now, the money that is to be warehoused with the
Central Bank is yet to be released. The Federal
Government’s promises remain just promises. We are
appealing to Nigerians, through the media, to help us
appeal to the Federal Government to make the
promises become a reality.”
ASUU maintained that, inasmuch as its members
would not want to resort to strikes in settling issues
with the government, they would want Nigerians to
know that the conditions of the universities really
needed to be improved upon.
Also, the chairman of the University of Ibadan
chapter of the union, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, insisted
that all that ASUU members stand for, is a free
society, where individuals’ rights and entitlements
are not trampled upon.
Ajiboye said ASUU members would continue to kick
against injustice in the country until governments do
the right thing.
He urged the media, more than ever, to sensitise
Nigerians on the plight of ASUU and its members in
universities and allied institutions, maintaining that
the struggle was meant for all Nigerians,
irrespective of status.
“A current case in point is the recent sack of over
90 workers at CRIN (Cocoa Research Institute of
Nigeria), simply because their appointments were
not confirmed. This development is unacceptable to
ASUU, and we are kicking against it. Nigeria must be
a free state for everybody.
“Despite the fact that ASUU was initially called
names during our strike, is ASUU not vindicated at
the end of the day? What we are saying is that
ASUU’s struggle is for all. We appreciate the
contribution of the media to our struggle, and we
urge you not to relent,” he stated.
In the same vein, the union had recently directed its
members not to fill forms, distributed by the
National Universities Commission (NUC), warning
that it may lead to an industrial action.
The NUC had given out the forms for a new method
of payment, tagged: Integrated Payroll and Personal
Information System (IPPIS).
The directive was given by the same University of
Ibadan branch of ASUU, claiming that the method
of payment had been roundly condemned in the
health sector after noticeable flaws in the system.
The lecturers cautioned the NUC not to distract
them now that they were trying to cover lost
grounds occasioned by the six-month strike, while
declaring that the method of payment negated the
principle of university autonomy agreed upon since
1992.
“Our attention has been drawn to NUC’s circular,
directing university staff to fill IPPIS forms. This is
to remind you that the union’s position on IPPIS has
not changed. Until NEC reviews its earlier decision,
no ASUU should fill the form. NEC is to discuss this
issue later this month (February) and give further
directive. United we bargain, divided we beg.”
Ajiboye said, “the integrated payment system does
not take into consideration the peculiarity of the
work of academic staff, and it negates the principle
of autonomy, which ASUU won since 1992.
“IPPS negates the principle of university autonomy
that ASUU fought for. We are employed by our
respective governing councils, and not centrally by
NUC. For salaries to be paid from Abuja is strange
to the world university system, apart from the
dangers inherent in it,” he said.
Attempts to get reactions from the Minister of
Education, Dr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday was
unsuccessful, as he was said to be outside the
country on official assignment, while the Permanent
Secretary in the ministry could also not be reached.
Wike’s Personal Assistant, Mr. Lambert Oparah, said
in a telephone conversation yesterday, that he was
not competent to comment on the said looming
strike. His words: “Please, I am not competent to
speak on the topic. Only the minister or the
Permanent Secretary can make statements or
comments on such matters. The minister is out of
the country on official duty and the Permanent
Secretary cannot be reached until Monday. But I
assure you that the minister will speak on it on
Monday (tomorrow).”.