Background
and Context
The tension in Nigeria's higher
education sector continues to rise as the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) prepares for a crucial meeting with the Federal Government on July 25,
2024, to address a series of unmet demands. Concurrently, non-academic staff
across the nation's universities are set to embark on a one-day protest on
Tuesday, July 9, 2024, as a prelude to a nationwide protest scheduled for July
18. These developments underscore the persistent unrest and dissatisfaction
within Nigeria's tertiary education system, which has been plagued by strikes
and protests in recent years.
ASUU's
Position and Upcoming Meeting
The ASUU, led by its National
President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has been vocal about the government's
failure to meet the demands outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed in 2009. This MoU, among other things, includes the conclusion of the
renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s
draft Agreement of 2021. Key issues also encompass the release of withheld
salaries from the 2022 strike, funding for the revitalization of public
universities, and the implementation of the University Transparency and
Accountability Solutions (UTAS) in place of the Integrated Payroll and
Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Prof. Osodeke, in a phone interview
with our correspondent on Sunday, emphasized that the protests by ASUU chapters
across various campuses have yielded some positive results, prompting the
Federal Government to set a timeline for addressing these issues. "We have
met with the Minister of Education and reached a timeline. They made promises
to us, and we want to watch if it would be done. We are meeting two weeks from
today, July 25th, to see if they have done what they promised," he stated.
The protests, which have seen
significant participation from both academics and students, have been a
critical factor in pushing the government towards this scheduled meeting. ASUU
has made it clear that failure to meet their demands could result in another
round of industrial action, potentially disrupting the academic calendar once
again.
Non-Academic
Staff Unions' Grievances and Planned Protests
Parallel to ASUU's efforts,
non-academic staff unions, including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian
Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and
Associated Institutions (NASU), have declared their intention to protest
against the government's failure to pay their withheld four-month salaries.
This protest is set to occur at individual university branches on Tuesday, July
9, 2024, with a larger, nationwide protest planned for July 18, 2024.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of
NASU and SSANU expressed their dissatisfaction in a circular jointly signed by
the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, and the President of SSANU,
Mohammed Ibrahim. The circular highlighted the insensitivity of the government
to their plight, despite several meetings with the Minister of Education and
other government officials. "Unfortunately, after the engagement, the
Minister of Education has not shown any convincing commitment to the payment of
our withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the
two unions," the circular read.
The withheld salaries date back to
a prolonged industrial action in 2022, which saw the universities shut down for
eight months. While President Bola Tinubu ordered the payment of four of the
eight months' salaries for academic staff, non-academic staff were excluded,
leading to a renewed rift and heightened tensions within the university system.
Detailed
Demands and Issues
ASUU's demands are extensive and
multifaceted, reflecting deep-rooted issues within Nigeria's higher education
system. The union's open letter to President Bola Tinubu, dated June 20, 2024,
detailed ten core issues alongside other emerging concerns. These include:
1. Conclusion of the FGN/ASUU Agreement
Renegotiation: Based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s draft Agreement
of 2021.
2. Release of Withheld Salaries: Specifically,
the three and a half months' salaries withheld due to the 2022 strike.
3. Salaries of Staff on Sabbatical and
Part-time Appointments: Addressing the application of IPPIS, which led to
non-payment.
4. Outstanding Third-Party Deductions: Including
check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
5. Funding for University Revitalization: Partly
captured in the 2023 Federal Government’s Budget.
6. Earned Academic Allowances: Also partly
captured in the 2023 Budget.
7. Proliferation of Universities: The need
for better regulation and management of new universities by federal and state
governments.
8. Implementation of Visitation Panel Reports: To
universities, which remain unaddressed.
9. Illegal Dissolution of Governing Councils: A practice
that undermines university autonomy.
10.
University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS): Proposed to
replace the controversial IPPIS.
Prof. Osodeke stressed the
importance of addressing these issues comprehensively to avoid further
disruptions. "Your Excellency is requested to set the necessary machinery in
motion for bringing ASUU and major stakeholders (Ministries, Departments, and
Agencies) together to address the outstanding issues in FGN/ASUU engagements
since 2009. This will save our university system the agonies of another round
of industrial action and its disruptive potential," he wrote.
Reactions
and Consequences
The upcoming protests and meetings
reflect a broader dissatisfaction with the government's handling of higher
education issues. The protests by non-academic staff are particularly significant,
as they follow a series of failed negotiations and unfulfilled promises. The
JAC circular outlined the planned actions, starting with a general meeting on
July 8, 2024, to sensitize members to the government's insensitivity.
"A one-day protest should be held on Tuesday, 9th July 2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should
ensure that all members fully participate in the protest and the press or media
is adequately mobilized," the circular stated. It also announced a
national protest in Abuja on July 18, 2024, with the possibility of a strike
action to follow, pending further developments.
The government's selective payment
of withheld salaries has exacerbated tensions, with non-academic staff feeling
marginalized. Both SSANU and NASU have been vocal about their exclusion from
the salary payments made to academic staff in February. This perceived
injustice has fueled their resolve to pursue industrial action until their
grievances are adequately addressed.
Government's
Response and Future Implications
The Federal Government's response
to these protests and demands will be crucial in determining the future
stability of Nigeria's higher education system. The meeting on July 25, 2024,
between ASUU and the Federal Government, will be a critical juncture. Should
the government fail to meet the agreed timeline and fulfil its promises, the
likelihood of another protracted strike looms large.
For non-academic staff, the planned
protests are a warning shot, signalling their readiness to escalate actions if
their demands are not met. The nationwide protest on July 18, 2024, will serve
as a barometer for the government's willingness to engage and resolve these
issues. Failure to address the non-academic staff's grievances could lead to a
full-scale strike, further disrupting the academic calendar and affecting
millions of students.
The broader implications of these
ongoing disputes are significant. They highlight systemic issues within
Nigeria's tertiary education sector, including underfunding, poor
infrastructure, and governance challenges. The repeated cycles of strikes and
protests underscore the need for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to
these problems. Ensuring the stability and effectiveness of Nigeria's
universities is essential for the country's development, given the critical
role of higher education in national progress.
Conclusion
The meeting between ASUU and the
Federal Government on July 25, 2024, and the planned protests by non-academic
staff on July 9 and 18, 2024, represent critical moments in the ongoing
struggle for improved conditions in Nigeria's universities. The outcomes of
these events will significantly impact the future of higher education in the
country.
For ASUU, the focus remains on
holding the government accountable to its promises and ensuring the full
implementation of past agreements. For non-academic staff, the immediate
priority is the payment of withheld salaries and addressing other long-standing
grievances. Both groups are united in their pursuit of a more responsive and supportive
government approach to higher education.
As the nation watches these
developments unfold, the hope is that the government will take decisive action
to resolve these issues and prevent further disruptions. Achieving a stable and
well-funded higher education system is crucial for Nigeria's socio-economic
development and the future of its youth. #asuu #TrendingNews #Bulletin1247 #protests
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