The Academic staff union of universities’ (ASUU’s) strike action in Nigeria is not a new phenomenon for every Nigerian student, parent and guardian. The lingering issue that is yet to be resolved is the non-fulfilment of the agreement ASUU reached with the FG. Hence, ASUU is always frowning at the FG for its reluctance to honour the agreement.
From my little knowledge of the demands of ASUU is a whooping sum of Two Hundred Billion Naira for the revitalisation of the Nigerian Universities. Although, in my opinion, this amount of money is supposed to be for revitalising one university to reach an international standard, the release of such an amount has become a problem for the FG.
Summarily, since the nation has an education intervention agency, the TETFund, the ASUU-FG tussles could be simply and mysteriously solved by the agency. What I mean here is that the FG should stop crying of the lack of funds to fulfil its agreement with ASUU. Rather, it should direct the suspension of TETFund’s interventions for all institutions for ONLY one year. The suspended year’s budget should be used to fund all the demands of ASUU and even those of other tertiary institutions.
In its August 3rd 2021 news, Vanguard newspaper reported that TETFund has disbursed N300 billion to 226 tertiary institutions in Nigeria for the year 2021. In a different report, I learned that the intervention agency is targeting N500 billion for the year 2022 although N400 billion has been budgeted for the 2022 intervention year.
Therefore to end the ongoing ASUU-FG industrial dispute, if the latter can dedicate and direct ONE YEAR TETFund’s budget for the demands of the former, the problems could be simply solved.
Moreover, there are also available funds already allocated to some tertiary institutions but were not accessed for many years because of problems associated with the institutions. I am sure such funds are fully in the records of the agency and I recommend that such funds should be directed to be mopped up and added to the demand of ASUU.
I am urging the FG to look inwards and also put into consideration what I have suggested here. Though it is only my personal opinion I see a light at the end of the tunnel. FG can invite the leadership of ASUU and discuss with it the possibilities of resolving their disputes by implementing my suggestion.
I am also personally appealing to the FG that the NO-WORK, NO-PAY imposed on the members of ASUU is not a welcome idea and should be reversed immediately because they are civil servants, have families, dependants and household responsibilities. Many have no alternative income apart from their salaries and so withholding such would only fan the fire. Please, please, please, reverse the action now and pay them their salaries while making consultations on the resolution of the problems.
Jamil Mikhail Y PhD
FCE (T) GOmbe.
