June 17, 2003
IAP Ruling and ASUU
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Two weeks ago, the Industrial Arbitration Panel, IAP, chaired by Mrs Belinda Diei, ruled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities call off its more than six months strike and resume work. To date ASUU is yet to announce an end to its strike. It has insisted on pursuing a strike action that Nigerians no longer remember why it was called in the first instance.
There is no doubt that the Nigerian university system has deteriorated with both academic and infrastructural facilities the worse for it. Teaching facilities are inadequate and welfare conditions of both teachers and students are poor. Discussions between the government and ASUU have not necessarily been productive, and ASUU’s protests over the sacked University of Ilorin teachers remains unresolved. But does all these justify a continuing six months strike in a democratic dispensation, when several channels of protests can be creatively explored?
In the military era, Nigerians were prepared to accept prolonged strikes and even students protests, as part of the sacrifice and effort needed to discredit and end military rule. Today, the puzzle is: why embark on a prolonged strike, when the courts, the legislature and even public opinion could be used as persuasive and effective instruments of negotiation?
In the meantime students and parents bear the brunt of the strike. Parents and guardians are forced to spend the money that they would otherwise use to pay fees and their wards’ maintainance in school, on them at home. Where parents are unable to give pocket money, some students have shamelessly and sadly, taken to crime or even prostitution. As well, students who were at various stages of academic work before the strike was called, have lost touch with their books. Yet in some of the universities, students will be called to sit for exams or rushed through a semblance of teaching as soon as they resume, in an apparent effort to catch up on lost time.
The Nigerian university system is fast collapsing, and ASUU cannot continue to pretend that it is the governments’ business alone to stem the plunge. ASUU must accept some responsibility here, and begin to think of creative ways of pursuing its grievances against the government, without losing public support and sympathy.
While the government’s response to ASUU can at best be described as callous, ASUU’s continuation of the strike now, under any guise will portray ASUU as irresponsible and insensitive, and will certainly inflict a mortal blow on its credibility and long term survival.
CRP calls on ASUU to immediately comply with the IAP ruling, call off its strike and use the instruments of the law and due process in pursuing its concerns!
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