I was preparing for work this morning when I saw one Prof. Sogolo in an interview on the state of ASUU and FG on AIT so I felt I could spare a minute or two to listen to what the ‘one-time comrade’ would have to say on the matters arising. Prof Sogolo is a professor of Philosophy at the University of Ibadan and was the National Secretary to ASUU between 1982 and 1985 and event like this shouldn't be new to him.
To my uttermost surprise, his utterances and unfair positions against ASUU was shocking to me. For a Professor who has been in the system and not an alien to the state of our university today to frontally display such a blatant betrayal of the ideological pastime that the movement is known for? I didn't have a choice but to mute the TV and manage to enjoy the rest of my breakfast. The fact that I still could picture his lips moving necessitated me to ‘kukuma’ change the dial and listened to some comedy shows.
Some of the infuriating statements were:
· That the FG has not reneged on 2009 agreement
· That the fact that the 200B fund for 2013 has not been paid does not mean it won’t be paid since we are still in 2013?
· That it way too far for ASUU to demand that the Attorney-General sign the MOU?
· That the problem of ASUU is in its leadership?
· That the opening of the account with CBN should be convincing enough for ASUU to go back to class and respect the ‘philanthropic’ gesture of the Presidency?
· That the conditions of ASUU do not correlate with the agreement as stated in the MOU?
I have read through the agreement in 2009 and have listened to the yearnings of this Union and have found out that what it wants is not new. What ASUU wanted was simple. Implement the 2009 agreement! Implement what we have agreed upon four years ago!.
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The professor was confident that FG has not reneged on the 2009 Agreement and goes on to contradict himself by saying the conditions that allow for the agreement then (2009) has changed as according to him, the economy of the state has deteriorated so much that certain agreement can no longer hold.
Point number two. If ASUU complained that the agreed annual sum for this year has not be paid as we speak, is Professor telling us that it is rather too early? Should they wait till December 31st? Will you wait till 11:59pm to let your child have breakfast?
Point Three: If ASUU demands that the Attorney-General or the President signs the MOU, why not? Is the Attorney a spirit? Is he that benevolent? Why make much ado out of nothing?
Point Four: I dare say that if ASUU had this breed of leadership in the time past, the battle would have been long won. An incessant strike would have been history. I dare say that it is the leadership of the early times (plus the time Prof Sogolo was the National secretary) that has demean the hard-earned integrity and reputation of our Academic staffs and the Universities respectively.
What I have understood with Nigerian government is that the sector that chose to be understanding of the country’s economic status is the one who goes home with hungry belly.
The 2008 appropriation act maintained that Teachers Salary Scheme (TSS) be N780million ($5.03 at an exchange rate of N155: $1). As revealed by the chambers of commerce, industry, mines and agriculture, the average annual cost to the nation of a member of national assembly is $2.55m (Okuroumu, Nigerian Tribune 9 July 2008:15). In other words, it will take less than what is required to pay three (3) national legislators to pay TSS for all teachers employed by the federal government in the whole of Nigeria.
The dilapidated value of education in Nigeria has debased the academic integrity of Nigerian institution in other countries as Nigerian academic credential is treated within value.
In smaller African nation bulk of their budget is spent on education to allow for major accessibility to education. Below is the list of them;
Bostwana 19.0%
Burkina Faso 16.8%,
Cote d’Ivore 30%,
Ghana 31%
Kenya 23.0%
Lesotho 17.0%
Morocco 17.7%
South Africa 25.8%
Swaziland 24.6%
Tunisia 17.0%
Uganda 27.0% (Vanguard: Nov 26, 2012).
Nigeria 8%
This explains more reasons why Nigerians tertiary credentials are not truly treated with utmost regard in other countries. But hey, Nigeria is still the “Giant of Africa!”
Abiodun Aremu (2010) stated that what socialism advocates is simple. To ensure socio-political stability, there is the need to empower everyone. The only way to empower that large cross section of the society however is to offer affordable if not almost free education system.
Section 18 (3) of the Nigerian constitution that promised affordable education stated with a conditional premise “as and when practicable”..who defines the time of practicability? This is a pointer that the government knew it had no plan for the country’s education system from the start.
My Position
This struggle is being a long time coming. The union has endured from the start until now. It would be a sheer waste of effort time, meetings and future of the students if out decide to back out now if a practicable and rubber-stamping agreement has not being made. The strike will not be different from the ones that history has recorded as fought and lost. Fight this one once and for all, refuse to be associated with institution that cannot be ranked among 1000 institutions of the world, refuse to go to class with chalk and slate and most of all..refuse to be intimidated..
Well-meaning Nigerians are with you, true articulate youths are with you, history is with you. I am with you.
Joseph Seun..Reporting
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