At
the press conference by the ASUU President, Dr. Nasir F. Isa delivered
on Monday, July 1st, 2013, he offered a concise explanation on the
inevitability of a nationwide strike action by our lecturers scheduled
to commence officially on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013. True to his word,
academic activities in all public universities in the country especially
our prestigious University of Lagos have come to a disappointing halt.
In the midst of this impasse, it is important for us to reflect on the
many issues that surround this strike action and other discussions it
has thrown up.
To
begin with, it is important to explicate on the contents of ASUU
demands. As noted in their press release, ASUU posits that in 2009, it
had an agreement with the federal government (whose team was led by
Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, O.F.R.). This agreement was modified in
January, 2012, following the intervention of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim in the bid to
resolve the ASUU strike that lasted between December 4th, 2011 and 2nd
February, 2012. The contents of the agreement which has remained the
bone of contention hitherto include funding requirement for the
revitalization of Nigerian universities (N100 billion annually for 4
years), federal government assistance to state universities, progressive
increase of the annual budgetary allocation to education to 26% between
2009 to 2020, payment of earned academic allowances (allowances for
project supervisions at undergraduate and postgraduate levels,
allowances to HODs, Deans, e.t.c.), establishment of the Nigerian
University Pension Fund Administrator (the Nigerian Universities Pension
Management Company), transfer of landed properties to university,
setting up of Research and Development Units by companies operating in
Nigeria (to bridge the industry-academia lacuna) and the establishment
of a budget monitoring committee in each university. It is also
important to note that only 2 of the agreement in 2009 have been
fulfilled namely the reinstatement of Governing Councils of various
universities on or before February 12, 2012 and the amendment of the
pension/retirement age of academics on the professional cadre from 65 to
70 years.
The
sad story staring us in the face is that our government prides itself
on a score of 2/10, having fulfilled only 2 of 10 of an agreement it
wilfully entered into in the bid to develop a very strategic aspect of
our national life, the educational system, dating back to 2009. The
rhetorical question is that where on earth is 2/10 (20%) a pass mark.
Without doubt, it is safe to conclude that this fake sense of fulfilment
has beclouded the sense of the government of the day, and it has become
manifest in every aspect of our national life. Hence, Benin-Ore
expressway has perpetually remained an eyesore with the government still
foot-dragging. Holistically, the lesson for us all is that the
government is NOT DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED. This is particularly important
for us to know, as it has been constantly reiterated by scholars
especially Mkandawire, T. that the existence of a developmental state (a
state that is development oriented) is important in the bid to
guarantee societal development. Hence, the Nigeria of our dreams remain
nothing but utopian.
Of
all the contents of the FG-ASUU agreement, a number of them are of
resounding and emotive interest to me. ASUUs demand for a progressive
increase in the allocation to education sector to the tune of 26% in
line with international standards advanced by UNESCO is quite pertinent
in this discourse. The importance of education in the development of any
society cannot be overemphasized. Hence, it beclouds my imagination
when the federal government finds it difficult to accede to this
particular demand in the face of the fact that the head of the
government is a member of the academia. Looking at the 2013 budget, the
Ministry Of Education is allocated N360,822,928,272 (Total Recurrent)
and N71,937,785,489 (Capital) making a total of N432,760,713,762. This
figure represents a paltry 8.67% of the total budget put at
N4,987,220,425,601. This is quite mediocre when juxtaposed with the
budget of Ghana who has in the last twenty-five years or more
consistently dedicated at least 30% of its annual budget to the very
strategic sector called education. The permeating culture of
prebendalism has ensured that education has been starved of the
requisite nutrients, hence our universities are in a parlous state of
nature. This is particularly evident in the realities in our classrooms,
hostels, libraries, e.t.c. This is a clarion call to those who mean
well for the future of this country. 26% at least of the annual budget
is not too much to ask for and be given in line with the biblical tenet
Ask and it shall be given unto you.
The
earned academic allowance also falls under the above category. The
place of motivation in ensuring effective and efficient employee
productivity cannot be overemphasized. However, it is quite sardonic and
preposterous to comprehend the sad fact that our government is claiming
incapacitation in the bid to pay our lecturers in the face of massive
corruption and personal aggrandizement among political officers in the
country. Though the total earnings of our legislators for instance
cannot be appropriately quantified, report has it that a senator carts
home officially N2, 456, 647.7 monthly. This monthly pay of a Senator is
roughly equivalent to the per annum pay of a Lecturer I on step 5
(steps 1 9). What a ludicrous situation!
The
popular maxim is that the reward of teachers is in heaven. A pertinent
question I have to ask is that, Is it a sin to reward these teachers
here on earth, in order to ensure their survival in this derisively
materialistic society of ours. The above fact brings me to my next
question which is based on the reverence paid to members of the academia
in this country. According to the Consolidated University Academic
Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) which details the salary structure of
the academic staff of universities, a Graduate Assistant on step 1, 3, 5
and 6 has a monthly salary of N106,181, N112,327, N118,474 and N121,547
respectively (exclusive of tax and other deductions). Furthermore, a
Senior Lecturer on step 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12 earns annually N3,329,638,
N3,556,972, N3,784,306, N4,125,306 and N4,352,640 respectively
(exclusive of tax and other deductions). The preceding figures is no
doubt an evidence of profoundly unsatisfactory esteem placed on
education in our country. This is particularly evident when these
figures are juxtaposed with contemporaries in the private sector and
other aspects of the public sector. The lesson therefore for budding
Nigerian citizens currently at the primary, secondary and tertiary level
of education, is that the intelligentsia or the academia we dream of
joining is in nothing but a melancholic state where material survival
remains a herculean struggle/hustle.
Conclusively,
though the protracted ASUU strike to a very reasonable extent has
affected our academics, my opinion however, is that it is a worthy cause
being fought by the Union. Disheartening however, is the fact that the
government has appeared unconcerned and maintained an apathetical stance
to this very critical issue of national, if not international
importance. Hence, all sane Nigerian citizens must join forces with ASUU
the Stallion of Unionism to correct this incessant anomaly and entrench
positive development in our indispensable educational system.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE!!!
ISHOLA EBENEZER
President,
Social Sciences Students Association (SOSSA),
University of Lagos.
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