ASUU Strike and some of the frequently asked questions...

My response to some frequently asked questions on the ASUU strike and the demands.

Qn: ASUU has been going on strike since the 80s and has not produced results. Why can't they change tactics?

Ans: First-generation universities were established to be able to sustain themselves with time. You can see that from their assets. The coming of the military government in 1966 distorted the plan as education that was still in the developmental stage was pulled out of the priority list of the country by the government. Development in education was relatively stagnant as more universities were established in 1975. The starting structure sustained the first and second-generation universities to a point. They start to degrade without adequate attention.

ASUU and the Student Union began the agitation for proper funding. Students got lost somewhere along the line after they successfully killed radical student unionism. That agitation by ASUU led to the establishment of what we have now as TETFund in 1993 which brought a little relief to the public universities. Then, the release of the first tranche (N200bn) of the revitalization funds in 2014 by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan got some jobs done. Our university would have long died without the intervention of ASUU. It is the ASUU strike that has given our universities a semblance of a university, else they would have all gone like the public primary and secondary schools.

Qn. What was ASUU asking for in the FG-ASUU 2009 agreement?

Ans: The following is contained in the 2009 agreement-
-Salary Structure for Academic Staff in Nigerian Universities
-Earned Academic Allowances
-Funding of Universities and sources of funding
-University Autonomy and Academic Freedom
-Some issues that require legislation.
The 2009 agreement which includes the salary of academic staff was meant to be renegotiated every 3 years. It's 13 years now and the agreement has not been renegotiated. You can find the details of the said agreement here. https://ASUU.org.ng/fg-ASUU-agreements/

Qn: What is this University Autonomy

Ans: The principle of autonomy is the power possessed by universities to govern themselves, have their own rules within the framework of their *organic* law, designate their authorities, determine their plans and programs within the principles of academic freedom, and research, and freely manage their assets. This is to shield the ivory tower from the bureaucracy of the civil service.

The Nigerian Universities Autonomy Act No. 1, 2007 has this: "The Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003 (otherwise called the Universities Autonomy Act No. 1, 2007) enacted by the National Assembly and signed into law on 10th July 2003 and later gazetted by the Federal Republic of Nigerian Official Gazette No. 10, Volume 94 of 12th January 2007 as Act No. 1 of 2000, has vested the powers of MANAGING THE PERSONNEL AND PAYROLL SYSTEM issues in the hands of each university’s governing council."

Qn: Since public universities are autonomous, why don't they generate the money to fund themselves?

Ans: Public universities no doubt draw their funding from public funds since they are tuition-free, that is why they are called public universities. They are budgeted for and funded with public funds but have the freedom to govern themselves to liberate the university from the bureaucracy of the civil service. This is to enable the Council to exercise its powers and perform its functions without undue external interference or influence. This is to protect the integrity of the ivory tower.

Qn. Why is ASUU comparing their salary to politicians and not to the police and military?

Ans: Up till 1966 Professors earn more than federal ministers, Generals, etc. Professors were the highest paid civil service after the Prime Minister, The VC of University College, Ibadan (University of Ibadan), and the Chief Judge of the federation.

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