On 23/10/25, ASUU reduced its warning strike by two days due to 'efforts of students, parents and NLC'. I hope the Government will respond to this practical goodwill. Our people say that when the moon is bright thieves become ashamed and hide. Unfortunately, our government 'doesn't feel ashamed'! Those who pressured ASUU to 'calm down' should also pressure the government to take necessary action. I will nevertheless conclude this series, which began with my interventions in 2009 and 2022.
People mistakenly see this as an ASUU issue rather than a national disaster. I visited UI this year (2009), and if all the money in question was invested in UI alone, it could not restore its glory. Everyone forgives the dishonesty of the government and asks ASUU to adopt a lenient attitude. ASUU should consider the interests of the students, but who considers the interests of ASUU? All educational unions are on strike, but the government is feeding lies while Dr. Egwu is busy partying (watch Bisi Olatilo Show special 6/7/09). He would have been sacked for criminal insensitivity and roasted by the press/public, but nothing happened because the government is in a state of apathy! Perhaps a new dimension should be added next time: march to Aso Rock, NASS, NUC and the Ministry of Education with torn academic gowns!
Also read: How the 16 ASUU strikes failed to fix universities?
That was in 2009. Today, in 2022, the same issues are still at hand, and another government is looking at controversial matters with disdain. Adamu-Adamu declared the 2009 agreement unsustainable, but they were busy signing agreements that would eventually become MOD (Memorandum of Deception), MON (Memorandum of Do-Nothing) and MOJ (Memorandum of Just-Call-The-Strike). The 'Labor Prefect', Ngige declared that the lecturer is currently on leave and FG has paid the 'lecturer' N92bn. Revival funds are paid to universities, and EAA is paid only to federal ASUUists. But how does the N92bn relate to the agreed N1.3trn within 5 years? Jonathan paid N200bn (2013) and PMB, N70bn (2015-2022). compare and contrast!
The press reported that the government had collapsed. Yet, the governors' wives flew to Dubai to present Aisha with beedi cakes while the House delegation was in Romania to monitor the evacuation of Nigerians from Ukraine. The government pledged N200bn to clean up 'dirty fuel' imported by its friends, while Nigeria donated $1m (possibly borrowed) to Talibanised Afghanistan. People also easily forget that about 98 per cent of our lecturers and their children are in Nigerian universities. (I have alumni of UI, ABU, UNILAG, LASU, UNIBEN, UNN, FUTmina and NAU in my family). The cable released data on ASUU strikes since 1999 but forgot the number of broken agreements and the number of tortured, futile ASUU-government meetings.
As usual, the government has taken a flurry of activities to divert attention from its criminal negligence. It has set up a white-paper committee on visitation panels (completed 10 months ago); a committee to renegotiate an agreement (concluded 8 months ago); a committee on lecturers' allowances; And another committee on IPPIS and UTAS… all with immediate effect! What happened to all the reports of previous committees? However, ASUU has declared that this is not the time for negotiations, and Chief ASUUist Professor Osodeke has declared that we have ended negotiations with him.'
“Well, that was in 2022, but now, in 2025, we are still discussing the 2009 agreement. How can I explain to my Year 1 students that the agreement they signed in liquid form is still in dispute?”
So, why should the FG meet with ASUU, sign agreements, form sterile committees and 'consign everything to the drawer'? Why should stakeholders immediately fall asleep after ASUU acted upon their pleas? How many of the ASUU advocates today would be comfortable with the wages fixed in 2009? Why do those in government including Professor Osinbajo always turn their backs on ASUU? Because talking while cutting is bad table manners? Will this changing government behave differently this time? Why should an academic general earn a fraction of a minute more than other Nigerian generals? Is it a crime to offer to light other people's candles? Why should lecturers teach the nation, but the nation betrays the lecturers? As I concluded. The People's Consortium headed by the Son of Man proposes that lecturers should set up 'private clinics', allowing them to attract students for first-class attention and first-class fees.
Also read: ASUU again? No; This is the government! (2)
Well, that was in 2022, but now, in 2025, we are still discussing the 2009 agreement. How can I explain to my Year 1 students that the agreement they signed in liquid form is still in dispute? I joined the OOU in 2004, and now that I'm planning retirement, is the 2009 agreement still a matter for committees? I hope I have used these points to make you understand, not confuse, that this is the government. And I pray I will never follow up on this tome again! Meanwhile, some people who cannot distinguish between ASUU and its members say it works well for us because we usually rig elections for politicians.
However, the Education Minister has assured that ASUU will never go on strike under his watch. Should I trust him after years of serial infidelity? After all, he had denied the existence of the 2009 accords before his Damascus Road experience! I am waiting and reminding the government that 4 weeks are less. After all, a week has already passed!
Ik muo, ooo, ago-ivoye. 08033026625
