Why we remain on strike, by varsity teachers

In the past two months, university
teachers have been on strike. There
is no sign of when the action will
end , despite the Federal
Government ’s release of N100 billion
for renovation of universities ’
infrastructure and N30 billion for the
payment of earned allowances. The
money, the lecturers say, does not
meet their demands. Parents and
students are also urging the Federal
Government to honour the
agreement in full.

The Federal Government may consider
the N 100 billion it has released out of
the N 500 billion for infrastructural
projects in 61 universities a big deal but
university teachers think otherwise .
Despite pressure from various quarters
that it should manage what the
government has offered and end its 74-
day old strike, the Academic Staff Union
of Universities (ASUU ) is not moved .
Members of the union in the public
universities nationwide are insisting that
the Federal Government must honour
the agreement by providing the funds
according to the timetable and
conditions both parties set .
Ironically , many parents and students
interviewed by The Nation seem to be
behind ASUU. They are urging the union
to ensure they get all that was agreed
upon so that there would not be
another strike soon .
Journey to 2009
ASUU/ FGN Agreement
The 2009 agreement was a product of
negotiations with successive
administrations , beginning in 1992 with
that of former military president Gen
Ibrahim Babangida . There were also re-
negotiations in 1999 ( under Gen
Abdulsalami Abubakar); and 1999 / 2001
( under former President Olusegun
Obasanjo ), until the agreement was
signed in 2009 ( under the late President
Umaru Musa Yar ’ Adua ).
ASUU President Dr Nasir Fagge said
through the agreement, the union seeks
to make universities competitive by
ensuring that conditions of service are
favourable to academic staff so as to
reverse brain drain; provide adequate
funding to universities; and ensure their
autonomy and academic freedom .
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