This is a sequel to my earlier article on the need to abandon strike as a means of bargaining for improving Nigerian University Education.Here an attempt will be made to analyse the efforts made by successive Nigerian Governments since 1999 to improve University Education in spite of the incessant strike actions by ASUU .
The Nigerian government's recurring failure to fully implement agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is a complex issue rooted in a combination of political inertia, fiscal constraints, and a perceived lack of political will to prioritize education. This has created a "depressing cycle of negotiations, strikes, and half-hearted interventions" since the benchmark 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
The government's repeated failure can be critically analyzed through the following lenses:
Lack of Political Will and Official Indifference by Government characterised by
Broken Promises and Neglect.ASUU contends that the crisis is a direct consequence of official indifference and years of broken promises. Successive administrations have initiated renegotiation committees (like Wale Babalakin Committee in 2017 and Nimi Briggs Committee in 2022) but have consistently failed to sign or implement the resulting documents, suggesting a low priority for resolving the crisis permanently.
In addition there is also the issue of Bureaucratic Inertia occasioned by the slow, inconsistent, and often inefficient responses, including the setting up of multiple committees to revisit the same issues.This brings to the fore, the significant bureaucratic inertia and a lack of urgency in the government machinery .
There is also the problem of Coercion over Conscience.Though provided by Nigerian Labour Laws and International Labor Organisation,ILO,the frequent invocation of the "no work, no pay" policy is rather seen by ASUU as employing coercion as a substitute for conscience or thoughtful dialogue.
As if all these were not enough,we also have Fiscal Constraints and Underfunding that Government always complains about.
It is worth noting that the issue of inadequate Funding is at the core of ASUU's demands.ASUU has pointed out always that sustainable funding and revitalization of public universities must be addressed which is the major source of the perennial short-funding crisis for staff, students, and infrastructure.Here it must be admitted that the government's inability to commit sufficient budgetary allocation to education is a critical stumbling block .
The issue of affordability and Constitutional Purview is another stabling block blamed on government. Government officials sometimes argue that ASUU's demands, particularly on salary adjustments and funding, might be beyond the government's current financial capacity or constitutional purview, especially when the agreements were drafted without full involvement of the Ministries of Justice ,Finance , Education and the National Assembly.
There are also Structural and Legal Gaps which require
an enforcement mechanism.It could be seen that early agreements (like the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding) have been criticized for their limited scope and lack of enforcement mechanisms, particularly regarding the engagement and enforcement of recommendations for state universities.This gap is probably why State Universities are unjustifiably drawn into strike actions.
Contractual Ambiguity is another issue in which there has been contention over whether certain documents constitute a signed agreement or merely a draft/proposal, as claimed by some government officials, which weakens the legal enforceability of the terms and leaves room for future breaches .
With all these ,I firmly believe an alternative to strike must be found that could lead to
a sustainable path to resolving the FGN-ASUU imbroglio which requires both parties to shift from a conflict-driven model to a partnership anchored in long-term structural reform.
Furthermore Government and ASUU must both ensure Legal and Financial Commitment to all future agreements if any meaningful solution is to be found.To achieve this,there must be
Legal Enforceability of all future agreements. The government must ensure that all final agreements are gazetted for legal enforceability with full involvement of the Ministry of Justice to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions.Not only that,there is also need for Budgetary Alignment with any such agreements .In this regard Commitments for funding and allowances must be mainstreamed into the annual appropriation budget with a guaranteed, predictable schedule for payment of earned allowances, arrears, and revitalization funds.That is why the National Assembly must be part and parcel of the negotiations from the onset.The government must clearly state what it can afford and be truthful about its shortcomings.
One sure way of ending this malady is adopting what I call
Holistic Renegotiation of the old agreements where in future agreements anchored with a holistic understanding that includes not just financial matters but also structural reforms, accountability mechanisms, and inclusive policymaking.
Sincere Engagement.This can only be meaningful if both the government and ASUU suspend punitive measures and belligerent unionism.In the interest of the Nation's future,there should be a moratorium on strike actions in the university sector for the next ten years.The National Assembly,in collaboration with the Executive,should work towards declaring an emergency on University Education,where the rights of unions to embark on strike is formally suspended for the period.This will make the vexatious "no work, no pay" policy unnecessary.In addition both parties should return to the negotiation table with a sincere commitment to address the core issues.
In furtherance of my earlier proposal for a third party mediation,I wish call for the use of credible, reputable, and sincere mediators who can help bridge the gap of distrust between the parties and facilitate a workable resolution
The
Legislative Oversight of the The National Assembly should play a role in overseeing compliance and implementation of the agreements to hold the executive arm accountable for its commitments through the period of emergency and beyond.
Future agreements should be student- centred to ensure that the ultimate beneficiaries of the educational system are not overlooked in the pursuit of administrative and welfare goals.Having said this let's examine past government efforts.
It is on record that since
1999,each Administration has made specific, though often controversial, contributions to Nigerian university education. Achievements range from expanding access to introducing funding and reform initiatives, but all administrations have also contended with infrastructure deficits, funding issues, and persistent strikes.
Olusegun Obasanjo (1999–2007)
Expansion and liberalization: Obasanjo's administration liberalized the education sector, creating space for private-sector investment in tertiary education and licensing many new private universities.
Accreditation and reform: The National Universities Commission (NUC) conducted accreditation and ranking exercises to assess the academic performance of universities. A national summit was also held to review the higher education sector.
Anti-cultism campaign: The administration intensified efforts to combat cultism in tertiary institutions.
Challenges: Obasanjo's tenure was marked by frequent and prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over poor funding, which severely disrupted the university system.
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (2007–2010)
Focus on dialogue: Though short-lived, Yar'Adua's administration is remembered for its engagement with ASUU and other unions to address grievances and improve the university system.
Niger Delta education: The administration's Niger Delta Amnesty Program provided foreign educational and professional training opportunities for hundreds of youth in the region.
Goodluck Jonathan (2010–2015)
Expansion of federal universities: The Jonathan administration established 12 new federal universities to expand access to higher education, with a focus on states that lacked a federal university.
TETFund reforms: The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was expanded and strengthened. During Jonathan's tenure, over N500 billion was channeled through TETFund to increase infrastructure and quality in tertiary institutions.
Scholarship programs: The administration funded postgraduate studies for over 5,800 lecturers from federal and state institutions, with a significant number sent overseas.
Infrastructural development: The administration refurbished and equipped polytechnics with modern laboratories and provided ICT centers and instructional materials to federal colleges.
Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023)
Institutional expansion: The Buhari administration established 37 new educational institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, with a notable focus on specialized and military institutions.
Significant TETFund investment: An unprecedented N1.702 trillion was reportedly disbursed to tertiary institutions through TETFund during Buhari's eight-year term.
Teacher welfare: A special salary scale and new pension scheme were approved for teachers in basic and secondary schools.
Central Admission Processing System (CAPS): The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) introduced the CAPS to streamline university admissions.
Challenges: Despite record funding, the Buhari era was severely hampered by prolonged and frequent strikes by university staff unions, with ASUU alone losing 610 days to strikes.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023–Present)
Student Loan Program: Tinubu's administration established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to provide interest-free loans to indigent students.
End of strikes (so far): The administration has seen the longest period of academic stability in a decade, with no industrial action by ASUU in its first two years,except the ongoing warning strike .
Increased funding and infrastructure: An investment of N110 billion was announced for upgrading medical education in 18 universities, and some institutions are being powered by solar energy under the Energizing Education Project.
Teacher training: The Tinubu administration has initiated policies focused on teacher training and upgrading to boost instructional quality.
Some observers are pointing to the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of exchange rates and the manner they have significantly impacted the cost of living, as a major challenge for the Tinubu Administration,while some question the sustainability and accessibility of the new student loan system.
Be that as it may we can see clearly that though government efforts have not propelled Nigerian University Education the desired level,if these years between 1999 till date had been strike free,the progress would have been unprecedented.This is what strengthens my resolve that strike is not the solution to improving University Education in Nigeria.
Finally I hope more concerned Nigerians will join this discourse till a viable option is found to take us to our desired goal of having a functional University Education that can make Nigeria relevant in the 21st century and beyond.
