Nigeria: ASUU Strike - Student Unions Differ, As JAF Plans Mass Protest

The strike embarked on by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) on July 1, 2013 has indeed
tested the boundaries of student
unionism. From the National
Association of Nigerian Students
(NANS) to other realms of student
activism, conflicting perceptions
reflect students' reaction to the
ASUU strike. This report brings the
different voices to the fore.
It would be recalled that last
executive members of the National
Association of Nigerian Students,
NANS, led by the National Assistant
Secretary, Mr. Ali Mohammed
disowned the national president, Mr.
Yinka Gbadebo, on what they
referred to as "his support for the
Federal Government in the ongoing
strike by the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU." Some members
of the executive told newsmen that
students were largely unbiased in
the crisis and the inclination of Mr.
Gbadebo to support the
government was a deviation from
the students' collective goal of
resolving the crisis.
"The national president did not have
our mandate to support the Federal
Government over the strike as we
are a neutral body. We do not
support either the Federal
Government or ASUU because it is
the students that bear the brunt of
the strike. We call on ASUU and the
Federal Government to resolve the
issue within seven days so that the
students can return to their
campuses." However, in a phone
call with Vanguard Learning,
Mohammed confirmed that he was
not at all conversant with the issues
behind the strike.
Ayo Toe, the chairman of the
Student Union Transition
Committee, Obafemi Awolowo
University is also the leader of the
southwest senators at NANS. Toe,
while commenting on the weak
response of student leaders to the
strike said: "NANS as a body is no
longer on the campus, it is in Abuja.
A lot of these executives are not
even students themselves, and as a
result, cannot feel the pains of
students.
"I, however, disagree with those
who said that the NANS President
was in support of the Federal
Government. Yinka Gbadebo did not
take any position. ASUU went on
strike without informing us, and now
they are seeking students' support. I
heard rumours that ASUU is paying
some students as much as N16, 000
to stage protests for them. We
neither support the Federal
Government nor ASUU."
Not all student leaders buy into this
non-aligned movement. Mr.
Adeyemo Tunde is the coordinator
of the south- west zone of NANS.
While speaking to Vanguard
Learning, Adeyemo said; "We would
like the government to implement
the 2009 agreement signed with
ASUU.
"We are fully in support of the ASUU
strike, but our struggle is beyond
the strike. I have high regard for
Yinka Gbadebo, but this is not
personal. In our opinion, NANS
cannot be neutral on this matter.
When the strike began, our zone
passed a vote of no confidence on
Mr. President, and declared a state
of emergency in education." The
south-west zone has also begun to
mobilise youths for a mass protest
in Lagos next Tuesday.
The mass protest is being organised
by the Joint Action Front (JAF) to
pressure the government to
implement agreement with ASUU
and other unions in the sector. In a
statement signed by the JAF
chairperson, Dr. Dipo Fashina,
tagged; Education is our right,
system change is our goal, the JAF
boss said; "JAF is resolved with
other stakeholders in the Education
sector to kick-start with mass rallies/
procession on Tuesday, August 13th
in Lagos at the Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC) headquarters,
Tejuoso-Yaba at 8am. This will be
followed by zonal rallies in Kano,
Ibadan, Owerri, Calabar/Port
Harcourt, and Abuja."
Continuing, Fashina said; "The
rallies/procession are a buildup
towards a nationwide mass protest
that will become inevitable should
the government remain insensitive.
We in JAF are of the strong opinion
that government at all levels in
Nigeria operate anti-poor policies
and this is clearly expressed in their
lack of disposition to public
education. Government should be
blamed for all the crises in the
education sector, including the
incessant strikes. The unions in
education sector are not making
fresh demands. Each time any of the
unions goes on strike, it is because
the federal and state governments
failed to implement agreements they
freely entered into and signed with
any of the unions."
Whether or not the mass protests
will attract strong student support
remains to be seen. The last protest
organised by the Education Rights
Campaign (ERC) at the University of
Lagos involved only a handful of
students. Mr. Hassan Soweto, the
ERC boss attributed this to the hijack
of student unions by government
agents.
"No doubt, NANS and so many other
associations have been taken over
by government agents. These
associations have no interest in
fighting for education. If the
government pays them enough
money, they will keep quiet. As for
the faction of NANS which is against
Gbadebo, it is difficult to have a
clear picture about that. Very soon,
the elections to replace the late
senate president of NANS will be
held, I believe that some people are
using this situation as excuse to gain
cheap popularity."
Emmanuel Ahanonu, Chairman,
Nigeria Union of Campus Journalists
said; "It is very unfortunate that
NANS is divided. I commend ASUU's
actions, but I feel that it is to the
detriment of students. ASUU should
first of all have taken the Federal
Government to court, the strike
should have been a last resort.
"ASUU's grievances are legitimate,
but it is the students who are
suffering. It doesn't seem fair that
instead of spending four to five
years in school, a student will spend
about eight years because of the
strike. It is only helping to increase
crime in the country. Student
unionism especially on the part of
NANS has been reduced to money
and politics. There are a lot of
students who are grieved about the
situation, but are simply gnashing
their teeth in silence because those
who are supposed to speak on their
behalf are quiet."