AN END TO THE INCESSANT STRIKE ACTIONS WHICH HAS TRANSMOGRIFIED INTO A "HOBBY" OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU)

Make no mistake, the FG should not be exonerated totally from all blame. But the frequent & misdirected strikes of the union has diverted all attention & emotions to it. As it stands, ASUU's demands range from its rejection of the IPPIS platform as well as a well an increase in funding for revitalization which sincerely is very much ambiguous.

The proposed payroll system which will reduce personnel cost which accounts for 34% of government spending is currently the largest single item of expenditure ; As well as reveal ghost workers. The rejection of this payroll platform really says alot about the transparency & accountability of the Union.

Let me refer you to the words of Prof. Mosto Onuoha, President, Nigerian Academy of Science, he said *Incessant* industrial actions are doing more damage than good to higher education system in Nigeria. He made the remark, while reacting to the ongoing strike ASUU. According to him, the academia, parents and students are losers during such industrial actions: “These incessant strikes are really affecting our university education negatively,” he furthed said “ASUU cannot have it all.
“Many of ASUU strikes do not yield the government’s full intervention or implementation to agreed terms. And we cannot continue to shut down the universities. “This matter is about dialoguing. It is about to give and take. ASUU cannot have it all. “So, I appeal to our colleagues to be flexible in their demands, to help building a resilient and quality higher educational system in the country's".

There was such a time that ASUU Strike & its true intentions were much appreciated. That was during the time of genuine activism, The Unions strike actions did not begin today, the government has always dialogued & compromised, thereby leading to the release of several substantial amounts.

Which brings us to the question of accountability...What has been done with all the amounts; Particularly those meant for "revitalization".

In 2019 The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, alleged that the federal government released the sum of N163 billion to Nigerian universities from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as part of efforts to end the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Union...We'll like to know the breakdown of how the Money was spent. The Goodluck Jonathan administration released N200 billion in 2013...Same question. In June 2019 the Federal Government allegedly approved N208 billion as part of the 2019 intervention through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for infrastructural and teacher development in public tertiary institutions.

On December 31, 2018 the Federal Government had remitted N15.4 billion. The FG further approved N20 billion to be used to offset the outstanding arrears of the 2009 and 2012, audit verified earnings, in the university system. In 2013 Gabriel Suswam, Chairman of the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) assessment implementation committee for universities confirmed the release of N30 billion to the union

The strike is still hinged to the agreements & resolutions of the memorandum of action (NAN) discussed in the 2009 ASUU - FGN agreement, the 2012 memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the 2017 MOA, of of which will sum up to N1.3 trillion which this current administration inherited & described as *"Un - implementable"* in 2015.

The series of strikes embarked upon by the Union in the past 20 years have sliced off four academic sessions, according to facts available in the Federal Ministry of Education. It has ruined the academic progress of millions of Nigerian students. ASUU’s overplayed tendency to go on strike was one of the reasons some of its members last year broke away to form the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, whose members have readily embraced the Federal Government’s IPPIS scheme. The main reason for this indefinite strike (the IPPIS issue) is unnecessary and undue muscle-flexing by ASUU. I do not see how IPPIS and the respect for university autonomy cannot be accommodated together.
The Union must have a rethink and allow the IPPIS and UTAS to coexist because the universities cannot be left out of the war against corruption. Minimising corruption at source will help correct some of the neglects which routinely push ASUU to strikes.

Between 1999 and 2012, ASUU lecturers have been on strike for a total of 30 months out of a possible 156 months. lecturers have been out of class for approximately 20 per cent of the total teaching time in the past 13 years. This is equivalent to over seven academic semesters of four months each or accurately put, four academic sessions.

In 1999 the union embarked on a 5 month strike, in 2001 a 3 month strike, 2002 a 2 week strike, 2003 a 6 month strike, 2005 a 2 week strike, 2006 a 1 week strike, 2007 a 3 months strike, 2008 a 1 week strike, 2009 a 4 months strike, 2010 a 5 months strike, 2011 a 59 days strike, 2013 a 5 months strike, 2017 it lasted a month...and it continues up till today.

ASUU as a Union should have regard for our future which is being sacrificed on the alter of an un proportionate struggle & Consider the 500 & 400 level students in this country who should have left our campuses for their juniors. Consider the future of all Nigerian students...It should not become an acceptable practice that a 4 year course becomes 6 years or a 5 year course becomes 7 years.



IBRAHIM SAMSON BWALA

I see a serious revolution coming. and for those of

you doubting, have you read about the Arab spring

and studied how it started? A time is coming
when Men/Women will wish they were Nigerians

John Elton prophesied it about forty years ago. In his words which I'll paraphrase. "Nigeria will be known for corruption all over the world. The name Nigeria will be synonymous to corruption. But in a short while, Nigeria will rise again, anyone who lays hold of a Nigerian will say I will go with you...............

Let's keep praying for the ongoing revolution

No one is fighting for anyone in Nigeria. Hunger made certain of that

No no nooo ASUU are the problem we have in this country ...they are fighting for their own gain ....

It is becoming something else oh. Lalasticlala, what are your views on this issue?