The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, has once again threatened to go on a nationwide strike. This potential action comes as a response to the Nigerian government’s continued inaction on a series of longstanding demands. Despite numerous nationwide protests and open letters aimed at drawing attention to their plight, it remains at an impasse with the government. The roots of these grievances stretch back several decades. Established in 1978, the union has been a vocal advocate for the rights of university lecturers and the improvement of Nigeria’s Tertiary Education system.
Over the years, strikes have become a recurring event, driven by unmet demands related to funding, salaries, and working conditions. One of the most significant precedents was the 2009 strike, which culminated in an agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government. This agreement included commitments to better funding for universities, improved Salaries for lecturers, and general infrastructural development. However, many of these promises have remained unfulfilled and the breach has set the stage for future conflicts.
Precedents and current state of the union’s threats.
In 2013, ASUU embarked on another protracted strike that lasted for five months. The strike further highlighted the continued neglect of the Education sector. The union’s demands during this period mirrored those of 2009, focusing on the government’s failure to honour its commitments. The government’s subsequent attempts to resolve these issues through gradual measures have only led to temporary truces rather than long-term solutions. But for several weeks, the union’s chapters across Nigeria have been engaging in nationwide protests, hoping to pressure the government into action. The union has been vocal about nine specific demands that remain unresolved even though there have been numerous engagements and promises from the government.
On July 4, 2024, members of ASUU-UNILAG, alongside supportive students, took to the streets to highlight these issues. Carrying placards with messages like “Education is life; proper funding of university education is non-negotiable” and “Stop establishing universities you cannot fund,” the protesters marched from Julius Berger Hall to the university gate and back to the ASUU-UNILAG secretariat. During the protest, ASUU-UNILAG chairman, Prof. Kayode Adebayo, said that the purpose of the demonstrations was to inform the public about the government’s insensitivity and silence. “We are sensitizing the public to prevail on the government so that we don’t go on strike. If nothing significant comes out after all these protests, we will decide to go on strike at our next NEC meeting,”.
Nine unresolved demands highlighted at the protest.
Prof. Adebayo’s remarks show that the union is reluctant to strike but the dire circumstances are forcing their hand. Former ASUU-UNILAG chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, also spoke at the protest. He criticized the government’s approach to education and lamented that Nigerian lecturers are among the least paid in the world and warned of a plan to hand over public universities to foreign investors. Dr. Ashiru’s comments reflect a broader concern about the Privatization of education and its potential impact on accessibility and quality, especially to the less privileged.
Notwithstanding, the nine demands presented by the union include: the conclusion of the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s draft agreement of 2021; the release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries withheld due to the 2022 strike action; the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS); outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions; proper funding for university revitalization, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget; the payment of earned academic allowances, also partially included in the 2023 budget; unchecked establishment of new universities by federal and state governments without adequate funding; implementation of reports from visitation panels to universities; and adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) in place of IPPIS for better transparency and accountability in university payrolls.
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This ongoing struggle reflects a deep-seated frustration with the government’s failure to prioritize education. The recurring strikes and protests are not merely about salary increments but also about the broader neglect of the educational sector, which has far-reaching effects for Nigeria’s development. As the union continues to push for the implementation of past agreements and better conditions, the hope remains that a sustainable resolution can be achieved to avoid further Disruption to Nigeria’s Higher Education system.