Barely two weeks after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) extended its one-month roll-over strike for another three months, the three unions of non-academic university workers commenced a two-week warning strike on March 25, 2022.
This is contained in a memo dated and addressed to the leadership of the unions’ branches nationwide, directing them to ensure total compliance with the directive. As contained in the letter, the strike became inevitable because of the refusal of the government to implement the MOUs and MOAs signed with the unions on the 20th of October 2021.
The demands of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Nonacademic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and Non-academic Technicians (NATS) are like those of ASUU on conditions of service. They have also engaged the government on Earned Allowances, staff schools, non-payment of minimum wage areas and proliferation of universities by states in Nigeria. Like ASUU’s the Unions’ warning strike is total and comprehensive.
The general implication of this strike is the aggravation of the already paralysed working environment in the university system. Specifically, operations of electricity, water, security, fire service, laboratories, libraries, and the entire administrative structures on our university campuses are now threatened.
Research activities have stopped since laboratories and libraries are closed.
Those who work with international fund givers are halted and are at risk of losing and even refunding huge research grants at very high costs. Universities that have their staff schools as part of the striking unions may have to home-school the pupils or leave them doing nothing.
The strike will also affect teaching hospitals and many stand-alone research institutions across Nigeria.
This is one of such times when some commonsensical questions need to be raised.
Why should any government, let alone that associated with the integrity mantra, refuse to implement agreements, MOUs, and MOAs it willingly signed after collective discussions and meetings?
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Why did the government sign the agreement in the first place? Is it rocket science implementing agreements that one signs? Were the successive governments intimidated into signing these agreements?
This last question is quite germane in lieu of the statement recently credited to the Minister of Labor that ASUU and other unions arm-twisted the federal government to sign unimplementable agreements. In a time like this, there is need to call a spade a spade. The federal government needs to save its reputation by turning 360 degrees to implement agreements signed with the unions.
There are several other unions that are similarly hard pressed. Government should not wait for the entire labour structure of the nation to be on fire before addressing workers’ grievances. It is necessary to emphasize that government is expected to be the epitome of trust and integrity in any social formation. Government is sacred and symbolic. Failure of trust and integrity on the part of the government means failure of the entire political system, if not the entire state.
The federal government should implement agreements with the unions without delay. The Trumpet notes with dismay that many powerful individuals who should have prevailed on the government to do what is right, continue to appeal to the striking unions to embrace dialogue. Other than being politically expedient, there is little logic behind any call for dialogue after agreements, MOUs and MOAs have been reached following meetings and collective negotiations.
Such powerful individuals include traditional rulers, religious leaders, and politicians. The time is now for them to leave what is merely politically correct and do what is just good for the nation.
The claim that the federal government was repeatedly intimidated or arm-twisted to sign agreements is depressive. All over the world, government is considered the umbrella of social operations and ours in Nigeria cannot be an exception.
Where then should the 200 million citizens seek protection and solace if the government that should protect them can easily be arm-twisted to take positions it cannot defend? The federal government should honour signed agreements.
As things stand, there is no more room for excuses. The warning strike by SSANU, NASU and NATS goes further to emphasise people’s lack of trust in the political system. This should be a golden opportunity for the federal government to redeem its battered image.
