Skip to main content

ASUU Struggles And The Gains In Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko By Busuyi Mekusi

December 6, 2013

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has been ignorantly, and in some cases mischievously, reduced to a set of strike mongers. Suffice to point out that the pervasiveness of strikes by the Union is indicative of government’s penchant for abnegation of collective bargaining which imposes huge responsibility laced with integrity, often times. The ongoing strike by ASUU was precipitated by the refusal of government to honour an Agreement it signed with the Union in 2009. 

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has been ignorantly, and in some cases mischievously, reduced to a set of strike mongers. Suffice to point out that the pervasiveness of strikes by the Union is indicative of government’s penchant for abnegation of collective bargaining which imposes huge responsibility laced with integrity, often times. The ongoing strike by ASUU was precipitated by the refusal of government to honour an Agreement it signed with the Union in 2009. 

While this Agreement has been interpreted by the Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Oluwafemi Mimiko, as applicable only to Federal Universities, it is noteworthy that the processes that led to the evolution and signing of the Agreement had representatives of State Universities at the level of institutions and government. This Agreement was meant to help achieve adequate funding and retention of manpower for Nigerian Universities, most especially in the face of both internal and external brain drains, in the overall quest for national development. 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });

The gains of the past struggles of ASUU in AAUA are signposted by the several completed and ongoing TETFund projects such as the Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall, the only major Science laboratories, ETF 750, four lecture halls in the quadrangle, the Space Research Building, which is now the Vice Chancellor’s Office, Yar’Adua and Awolowo Halls, the Central Library, and many others. These are still outside the several millions awaiting application for infrastructural development. In the area of manpower development, TETFund has allocated several millions of naira to AAUA for staff training, both home and abroad, as well as conference attendance and research. To be specific, TETFund was a baby of ASUU; an initiative it came up with that started as ETF. It should also be noted that some good efforts are also being made by the government to emplace infrastructure, even though they do not have direct impact on students who ASUU struggles are meant to benefit. 

No one is left in doubt by the Vice Chancellor of AAUA as he has consistently in both private and public fora insulted members of ASUU in AAUA who he believes should be denied their constitutional right to associate, as he attempts to turn everyone to a slave. Even though we are all aware of the relationship the VC has with the Visitor to the University, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, one would have wondered why such leverage should be converted to sheer impunity as the Vice Chancellor appropriates all the powers in all democratic matters in a system that should thrive on the committee system. ASUU-AAUA makes bold to say that it has adequate resolutions detailing the despotic disposition of the Vice Chancellor, and believes that they would become relevant some days. 

While the Vice Chancellor has made up his mind to externalize his hatred for ASUU through threats reminiscent of the sack of academics at the University of Ilorin, which later attracted opprobrium, we are convinced that his reign will only at best destroy everything that GREAT PEOPLE have achieved so far in AAUA. As ASUU members face threats of sack, following three months salary denial, the sum of 1.05 billion naira has been allocated to AAUA from the initial 100 billion naira released by the Federal Government as a result of the ongoing strike to build and renovate students’ hostels, lecture theatres, laboratories, etc. This will definitely go up as the money released increases. 

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });

It may not be out of place to inscribe here the patriotism of our members. It is also important to highlight that people may also join the emigration from AAUA if the place becomes too ‘hot’ for them. We know, definitely, that we have attained a 21st Century in AAUA!

Busuyi MEKUSI (PhD)
Chairperson
For and on behalf of ASUU-AAUA         

 

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });