Editorial
ASUU: No To NLC Strike
As part of efforts to compel the Federal Government to meet the demands of striking university-based unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate unions, said it would embark on a two-day national solidarity protest tomorrow and Wednesday.
Labour’s threat follows the lack of progress in the negotiations with the leadership of the ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, had directed all affiliate unions to comply with the directives on the planned protest at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Congress.
It is sad that universities in the country have been shut down for five months following strike by the various unions over the alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet their demands. Given the protracted nature of the strike, President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, directed the Ministers of Education, Adamu Adamu; and Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; to resolve the lingering strike by ASUU and report back to him within two weeks.
ASUU had embarked on a warning strike on February 14, 2022, which clandestinely metamorphosed into an indefinite industrial action, leading to the suspension of all academic activities in federal universities. Some state universities also joined in sympathy. Since then, efforts by the authorities and other stakeholders to resolve the impasse have failed.
At the centre of the strike are the alleged government’s failure to honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the union, the government’s poor commitment to the payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and release of revitalisation funds, inadequate funding of the universities, the continued use of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and refusal to adopt the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), and proliferation of public universities in the country.
For its part, the Federal Government stated that it had implemented most of the contents of the agreements with the union. It said that substantial amounts have been released for EAA and revitalisation of the institutions while UTAS, according to the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has “passed acceptability test but failed integrity test and credibility test, which formed the bulwark against hacking”. The government, therefore, set up a seven-man Prof Nemi Briggs-led committee to renegotiate the 2009 pact. The committee is said to have submitted its report to the government for implementation.
This is not the first time organised labour has intervened in labour disputes in the nation’s Ivory Tower. In 2013, NLC mediated in an ASUU strike by writing to the Presidency to devise modalities to resolve the industrial action. In 2021, it again, played vital role to resolve the standoff between the Federal Government and ASUU for university students. The NLC has been making failed efforts to end the current strike. However, the propriety of this intervention remains questionable, particularly as it affects Rivers State.
We condemn the penchant for strikes, which has done incalculable damage to the educational development of the country. Since the return of democracy in 1999, ASUU has spent, at least, 1,500 days on strike. The quick resort to strikes by ASUU members is irrational since the union can as well adopt other proactive and constructive alternatives. We are worried that for a country with over 40 million out-of-school children, prolonged stay out of tertiary institutions by youths will fill the growing crime pool. ASUU has to realise this fact and quickly suspend the strike.
Labour’s planned solidarity protest must be taken seriously because if carried out, may shut down businesses and stoke anarchy, thereby compounding the nation’s feeble economy. Nothing can justify this! We implore labour to immediately rescind its decision, and allow government implement the committee’s report.
We say so for a number of reasons. First, it is not in all universities that ASUU and other unions are on strike, especially state and private institutions. In these institutions, including those in Rivers State, workers’ entitlements are paid as at when due and enabling environment created for seamless teaching and learning. Therefore, it is wrong to direct workers in those states, including Rivers State, to embark on any solidarity strike.
Besides, the NLC in some states, particularly Rivers State, has become political partisans, and their officials constituting themselves as opposition elements to destabilise the government. Allowing NLC in Rivers State to call out workers on strike obviously amounts to arming critical opposition to undermine the government, especially at a time when all eyes are exploring winning strategies for the 2023 elections. There are ample examples of efforts of the NLC in Rivers State to destabilize the state. Now that the Chairperson of NLC in the State is also doubling as the governorship candidate of Labour party, and the same person is calling out workers in the state to embark on strike even when all the state-owned tertiary institutions are fully functional, it is obvious that this is another means to subvert the efforts of the state government at maintaining an uninterrupted academic calendar.
Besides, hoodlums have many a time hijacked supposedly peaceful strikes to advance their nefarious activities. Shops have been looted and the economy subverted. Many innocent people have also lost their lives these circumstances. There is also the likelihood that opposition politicians may hide under the cloak of labour to unleash violence on the people and jeopardize the peace that is currently prevailing in Rivers State. This is why it will be suicidal for workers in Rivers State to be used to fight government at this time.
Again, while we blame the Federal Government for the poor funding of universities, we boldly caution that it is not the mandate of ASUU, an assemblage of employees to dictate for its employers how and when to fund their own institutions. If they are not satisfied with their conditions of service, they should resign and seek better opportunities elsewhere rather than crippling the nation in order to satisfy their desires.
Nigeria cannot keep establishing universities when it has failed to maintain the existing ones. During President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, 12 universities were established. Today, all are struggling owing to paucity of funds. Despite this challenge, eight bills are currently being debated at the National Assembly for the establishment of more universities. This is proliferation without growth. Yes, it is unacceptable but it does not require any industrial action to resolve.
The Education 2030 Framework for Action proposed two benchmarks as ‘crucial reference points’: allocate, at least, four to six per cent of GDP to education or apportion between 15 and 20 per cent of public expenditure to education. Government at all levels needs to meet these projections.
Even so, rather than enter into unworkable pacts with the unions, governments need to review the funding patterns of the universities. It is unthinkable that they alone can finance the institutions. In the United States, revenue from federal and state sources made up 34 per cent of total revenue at public colleges and universities in 2017, with other funding coming from tuition and fees, private gifts, self-supporting operations, and other sources. Nigeria can adopt this model to end the unending strikes.
The delay in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive for zero customs duty and value added tax on food imports is unacceptable and highlights a concerning lack of urgency within the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Customs Service. Over two months after the announcement, the policy remains stalled, despite the President’s clear intention for immediate enforcement. This prolonged delay, especially given the policy’s temporary nature (July – December), is inexplicable and detrimental to a hoi polloi already grappling with a severe economic crisis.
While the Comptroller-General of Customs attributes the delay to the Ministry of Finance finalising details, this explanation is insufficient. The dire need for food relief demands swift action, especially in the face of soaring fuel prices, rampant inflation, and skyrocketing food costs. The President’s promise of subsidised rice at N40,000 per 50kg bag remains elusive as well, pushing many Nigerians further into hardship. Accusations of deliberate slowdowns motivated by the government’s revenue goals are alarming and warrant serious investigation.
A circular from the Presidency has clarified the approved food items eligible for duty exemption, specifically maize, millet, rice, wheat, husked brown rice, grain sorghum, and beans. This strategic move aims to alleviate the financial burden on consumers and enhance food security. Previously subjected to import duties between five and 30 per cent, these commodities will now be more accessible, potentially stabilising prices in the local market.
It seems the execution of the policy is encountering obstacles due to bureaucratic processes. If the government fails to address this crisis with comprehensive and effective measures, the consequences could be catastrophic. The simmering discontent amongst Nigerians could easily boil over into widespread protests and social unrest, further destabilising an already fragile nation. Ignoring the cries of its citizens and the looming threat of social upheaval would be a grave mistake with potentially devastating ramifications.
Public officials insulated by privilege and detached from the everyday struggles of the people, have fostered a dangerous disconnect. For too long, they have failed to truly understand the harsh realities faced by the majority of Nigerians, the daily grind of poverty, the constant battle for survival, and the crushing weight of economic hardship. However, the current multifaceted crisis, with its clear manifestation of suffering, should serve as a jarring wake-up call, even to the most arrogant and out-of-touch.
The government’s ill-conceived and draconian policies, implemented without adequate consideration for the people, have created an intolerable situation that can no longer be swept under the rug or dismissed with platitudes. The widespread suffering is a stark indictment of their negligence, demanding a fundamental shift in perspective and a renewed commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian people.
The recent #EndBadGovernance protests serve as an obvious reminder that disregarding the plight of the people is a dangerous gamble. When basic needs like food and security are unmet, and the cries for change are silenced, the simmering discontent inevitably boils over. Escalating hunger and desperation create a fertile ground for unrest, a truth tragically illustrated by the protests. If the government continues to turn a blind eye to the suffering of its citizens, more widespread and possibly violent demonstrations are not only likely, but inevitable.
Furthermore, attempting to quell dissent through intimidation and persecution of protesters is a recipe for disaster, as it only serves to further inflame tensions and breed resentment. The path to stability lies not in suppression, but in genuine engagement with the concerns of the people and a commitment to addressing the root causes of their suffering.
The Federal Ministry of Finance, led by Olawale Edun, has a crucial role to play in improving the image of this government. Minister Edun and Customs Comptroller-General, Wale Adeniyi, must prioritise the fight against hunger by expediting the zero duty policy. This policy will allow the importation of food at a reduced cost and ease the burden on struggling families.
Officials must accord precedence to the well-being of citizens over bureaucratic processes. The current economic hardship is undeniable, and the callous indifference displayed by those in power, who seem shielded from the harsh realities ordinary Nigerians face, is deeply troubling. The government must act decisively to expedite this critical policy and provide the much-needed relief to a population struggling with hunger, poverty, and misery. Continued delay is a betrayal of Tinubu’s promise and a grim reminder of the disconnect between those in power and the suffering Nigerians.
The delay in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive for zero customs duty and value added tax on food imports is unacceptable and highlights a concerning lack of urgency within the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Customs Service. Over two months after the announcement, the policy remains stalled, despite the President’s clear intention for immediate enforcement. This prolonged delay, especially given the policy’s temporary nature (July – December), is inexplicable and detrimental to a hoi polloi already grappling with a severe economic crisis.
While the Comptroller-General of Customs attributes the delay to the Ministry of Finance finalising details, this explanation is insufficient. The dire need for food relief demands swift action, especially in the face of soaring fuel prices, rampant inflation, and skyrocketing food costs. The President’s promise of subsidised rice at N40,000 per 50kg bag remains elusive as well, pushing many Nigerians further into hardship. Accusations of deliberate slowdowns motivated by the government’s revenue goals are alarming and warrant serious investigation.
A circular from the Presidency has clarified the approved food items eligible for duty exemption, specifically maize, millet, rice, wheat, husked brown rice, grain sorghum, and beans. This strategic move aims to alleviate the financial burden on consumers and enhance food security. Previously subjected to import duties between five and 30 per cent, these commodities will now be more accessible, potentially stabilising prices in the local market.
It seems the execution of the policy is encountering obstacles due to bureaucratic processes. If the government fails to address this crisis with comprehensive and effective measures, the consequences could be catastrophic. The simmering discontent amongst Nigerians could easily boil over into widespread protests and social unrest, further destabilising an already fragile nation. Ignoring the cries of its citizens and the looming threat of social upheaval would be a grave mistake with potentially devastating ramifications.
Public officials insulated by privilege and detached from the everyday struggles of the people, have fostered a dangerous disconnect. For too long, they have failed to truly understand the harsh realities faced by the majority of Nigerians, the daily grind of poverty, the constant battle for survival, and the crushing weight of economic hardship. However, the current multifaceted crisis, with its clear manifestation of suffering, should serve as a jarring wake-up call, even to the most arrogant and out-of-touch.
The government’s ill-conceived and draconian policies, implemented without adequate consideration for the people, have created an intolerable situation that can no longer be swept under the rug or dismissed with platitudes. The widespread suffering is a stark indictment of their negligence, demanding a fundamental shift in perspective and a renewed commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian people.
The recent #EndBadGovernance protests serve as an obvious reminder that disregarding the plight of the people is a dangerous gamble. When basic needs like food and security are unmet, and the cries for change are silenced, the simmering discontent inevitably boils over. Escalating hunger and desperation create a fertile ground for unrest, a truth tragically illustrated by the protests. If the government continues to turn a blind eye to the suffering of its citizens, more widespread and possibly violent demonstrations are not only likely, but inevitable.
Furthermore, attempting to quell dissent through intimidation and persecution of protesters is a recipe for disaster, as it only serves to further inflame tensions and breed resentment. The path to stability lies not in suppression, but in genuine engagement with the concerns of the people and a commitment to addressing the root causes of their suffering.
The Federal Ministry of Finance, led by Olawale Edun, has a crucial role to play in improving the image of this government. Minister Edun and Customs Comptroller-General, Wale Adeniyi, must prioritise the fight against hunger by expediting the zero duty policy. This policy will allow the importation of food at a reduced cost and ease the burden on struggling families.
Officials must accord precedence to the well-being of citizens over bureaucratic processes. The current economic hardship is undeniable, and the callous indifference displayed by those in power, who seem shielded from the harsh realities ordinary Nigerians face, is deeply troubling. The government must act decisively to expedite this critical policy and provide the much-needed relief to a population struggling with hunger, poverty, and misery. Continued delay is a betrayal of Tinubu’s promise and a grim reminder of the disconnect between those in power and the suffering Nigerians.
All looks set for the conduct of the Rivers State local government election scheduled to take place tomorrow in the 23 local government areas of the state. A total of 18 political parties will vie for various council positions in the polls to be conducted on Saturday. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had initially listed 19 political parties for the election, but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) discontinued the contest. Chief Emeka Beke’s faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will participate in the ballot.
Ahead of tomorrow’s council election, various lawsuits have resulted in conflicting rulings about how the election should be conducted. A recent judgment by a Federal High Court in Abuja has prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters register to RSIEC and instructed the police to withdraw security for the ballot. Similarly, the court has barred RSIEC from getting the voters register from INEC. However, in a counter ruling, a High Court in Port Harcourt has mandated that the state electoral commission continues with the election, requiring INEC to hand over the voters register and ordering police protection for the event.
As voters in the state prepare to head to the polls tomorrow, the conflicting rulings and legal battles have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the election process. With INEC and RSIEC at odds over claims regarding the issuance of the voters register by the former and security arrangements for the ballot, there is a need for clarity and resolution to ensure a free and fair election. The conflicting court rulings have added further complications to an already challenging situation, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. As all stakeholders navigate these legal challenges, the focus remains on upholding the democratic principles and ensuring that voters are able to cast their ballots without interference.
Intense preparations have characterised Saturday’s polls. The election is expected to be conducted in line with the provisions of the Rivers State electoral laws. Speaking at a meeting with stakeholders, the RSIEC chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd), hinted that the commission had complied with relevant sections of the law in all its preparations for the task. He implored political parties and politicians to ignore acts that could jeopardise the electoral process.
While we wholeheartedly endorse the move to ensure that democratic practice, norms and values always prevail at the local government level, we are truly elated by the level of earnestness and commitment exhibited so far by the Justice Enebeli-led commission to conduct credible, free and fair election in the 23 local government councils. Indeed, RSIEC can execute credible elections if it resists pressures from different quarters.
Despite the Federal High Court order, the state electoral commission’s parley with security agencies, especially with the police, and other stakeholders is, to say the least, heart-warming and reassuring. We expect this cooperation and partnership to continue even after the election. Going by Enebeli’s antecedents, we strongly believe that the commission will not fail to provide a level playing ground for political parties and politicians to test their popularity in a free, fair and tension-free contest.
The state electoral body must, therefore, strive to adopt an open-door policy where complaints would be entertained on their merit during and after the election. As anticipated, we hope the commission embarked on massive voter education and training of electoral and ad hoc staff that would man the 23 local government areas. It is advised that adequate preparations should be made for the security of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials, particularly given the tensed atmosphere in the state.
RSIEC is reminded that the success or otherwise of any election depends largely on the authenticity of the updated voter’s register which the commission has reportedly obtained ahead of the election from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The news that as many as 18 political parties in the state will participate in the council polls is cheering. The parties are urged to support and cooperate with the commission in ensuring a smooth and credible election.
It is expedient that Governor Siminalayi Fubara releases all the funds appropriated for the conduct of the local government election to the commission and ensure that he does not interfere in the workings of the RSIEC, or even influence the outcome one way or the other. Members of the commission should work harder to uphold the law without fear or favour; let or hindrance.
Incidents of missing ballot or result sheets, late arrival of materials and other logistics will only serve to discourage the electorate who already entertain a deep mistrust for the electoral process in the country. The lack of confidence in the system is largely responsible for the attitude of most Nigerians refraining from playing an active role of either voting for candidates of their choice or vying for political office. RSIEC must guard against those lapses.
Politicians, on their part, must understand that irrespective of their party affiliations, the common goal is the provision of good governance for the people. An election should never be a ‘‘do or die affair’’ and no aspirant is worth spilling blood for. Political positions are a call to service, not personal enterprises motivated by profits or bloody sports for which violent and fatal competitions are means. Experience has shown that arms provided for political thugs during elections, end up being tools for robberies and kidnappings after the election.
The idea of security agents acting the script of political actors should no longer amount to something in our polity. The nation currently faces perhaps its worst security challenges, and the police as well as other security agencies need the trust of Rivers people to enable them to carry out their duties effectively throughout the polls.
Law enforcement agents must protect both voters and election materials because it is their constitutional role to do so. The recent #Endbadgovernance protest, along with the violence that ensued, is a manifestation of the dissatisfaction of Nigerians with police operations. These security agencies must learn to commit themselves to their constitutional obligation and oath in the sustenance of democracy, rather than to any government official.
We must realise that ultimate power rests with the people, and the best way to exercise this power is through the electoral process. Hence, Rivers people must own the electoral operation, first by acquiring their permanent voters’ card, turn out en masse tomorrow to vote for candidates of their choice, and guarantee that their votes count. They have to elect responsible and responsive persons whose utmost interest will be the security and welfare of the people.
