By Nfor Eric Siben,
Department of Political Science,
University of Maiduguri.
I would like to first and foremost acknowledge and appreciate the efforts so far made by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in this ongoing struggle. It is on record that ASUU as a trade union has since its inception in 1955 when it was known as Association of University Teachers, AUT, taken issues affecting its members and the funding of the general infrastructures in public universities to heart. However, confronted with monstrous, corrupt and insincere governments over the years, it has had it very difficult to realize its objectives thereby resorting to strike actions which have always been the last option. All successive ASUU leaderships are very conscious of this fact and have maintained the tradition religiously even at the detriment of the system students and national development.
Remember I said strike is always the last option. This is because it is the only language politicians in our dear country understand. Since they do not have interest in funding education in this country due to the fact that their children go to school in foreign or private universities invariably saying, to hell with the children of the poor who sometimes lose many years of their youthful lives staying idle at home because of ASUU strikes.
I fear for the leadership of ASUU at such a time as this because this period of the ongoing negotiation with the Federal Government is crucial to either making or marring the image and integrity of ASUU leadership and the union. I believe that these incessant strikes can be avoided if the Union leaders insist on having all the demands met at the same time. There should be no room for further promises because the three principal actors on the government side; the Ministers of Labour, Education and Finance were the very people that signed the agreements which later refused to honour. Then why should ASUU now believe any of their promises? Isn't this a vicious circle?
If ASUU can continue this struggle for two years and have all its demands met and stay for over twenty years without going on strike, then l think that will be more honourable and respectable. Why these payments in piecemeal? Politicians in Nigeria do not respect a university professor because they believe that the highest thing they can do to drive home their demand is to embark on a strike action of which some have ridiculously lasted for only four days.
ASUU leadership need not accept promises anymore as that will mean mobilizing for another strike in no distant time and this l feel even ASUU members are most likely going to resist. Nigerians are getting fed up with ASUU because of its incessant strikes. They have refused to understand that ASUU is fighting for their own interest. Even students see the union as anti-development not minding the fact that it is the government that is responsible for their predicament. There shall come a time when these students will begin attacking ASUU members on campuses due to endless strikes.
ASUU leadership should know that once strikes are declared, the costs and consequences are always enormous both on its members as some die of frustration and harassment while for students, some die of accidents, leading to wasted resources for parents.
So why accept promises from people that will never fulfill them?
ASUU leadership please, do not suspend or call off this ongoing strike for any pressure whatsoever. We are behind you in this struggle. Do not disappoint us at such a time as this!
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