Perennial Strike in the Ivory Towers - A Case for a Robust and Self-Sustaining Approach - by Dele Falebita.

As at today, Nigeria has 49 federal government universities; 57 state government universities and 111 accredited private universities.

In other words, not all universities are locked in Nigeria. Some students are learning in some accredited universities across the nation. Only students principally in the federal universities and their parents are affected by this present strike action. The students from those other universities would go ahead to graduate, take the available opportunities in the job/labour market within reasonable age brackets while the strike-affected ones would have to make do with whatever is left after when and if they graduate.

Before year 2000, maybe strike was “great”. Not because it didn’t have its negative consequences. But right now, it appears we have reached a plateau- and ‘diminishing return’ is setting in. Time and season are affecting the perennial reasons for the strike model. The reasons have been about the same through different regimes of government consistently since around 1990. Yet, no workable or self-sustaining model has been attained! In other words, it is either something is wrong with the different regimes or the logic behind the strike needs to be checked.

Moreover, the system and people the strike actions are to help are beginning to think that the strike is becoming one-too-many and counter-productive. As it were, academic calendar is in shambles. No international collaborations that involve funding can operate. Students and their parents are frustrated and it appears that out of the five accusing fingers, many of them are pointing back at the striking unions.

The government the strike action is meant to get their attention is wondering what happens to University Autonomy Act No 1. 2007? The University Autonomy Act provides for at least 9 internal members and 6 external members. It gives power to the Council to freely discharge its functions for the “good management, growth and development of the university.” In other words, responsibilities of the Council are both administrative and financial and it is liberated from the undue external interferences (bureaucracy of the Civil Service). But it appears, there is preference for only the administrative (e.g appointment of Vice-Chancellors, promotion matters, etc) and not the financial responsibilities of the Council. Unions still go cap-in-hand to the government to get entangled with bureaucracy with no consideration for the Council. How then can the universities maintain independence (autonomy)? If the Unions keep going to the government like this, then we should not complain if they dictate the tune.

The realities dictate a change of style. Why? The work of improving the standard of higher education and quality emoluments for staff in a sustainable manner belongs to every stakeholder. The burden is not to be borne alone by the Unions. 

1.The Unions can facilitate a meeting of stakeholders between the government, Council of the university staff, parents, alumni and students for collective negotiation and responsibility in the operation of higher education in Nigeria.

2. The Councils must be allowed to operate and do their duties regarding the finance of the University. The Council has to be on its toes and creative in sourcing for money. The overall financial realities of each University will be dictated based on their peculiarities.

3.Unions can fight for the welfare of their members with respect to each University Council.

4.The national issue may be limited to fighting for baseline along with the Labour Congress.

These should improve creativity and competitiveness in the running of the Universities in Nigeria.  

Unions would save face, government would save face, students would graduate as when due, parents would be happy, academic calendar would be stable, local and international research collaboration and/or exchange might even increase. In short, the system would run sustainably - as different from the intermittent strikes we are used to for over 30 years now.

If the Unions prefer to only operate the University Autonomy Act for appointment of vice-chancellor and other promotion matters after the  unions have fought vigorously for this autonomy; that's tantamount to hypocrisy.

If the Unions prefer that the society they think they are trying to help should turn around and accuse them of being the cause of their woes; that's  the same as  foolishness.

If the Unions prefer that the 49 Federal Universities should continually  be grounded to prove these points while other accredited universities are maintaining proper academic calendar; that's lack of sustainable VISION. Looking backward and hoping to go forward.

A mono-directional methodology such as being practiced is limited in its capacity for self-sustaining ideals of a world-acclaimed University education. We are talking about a body of researchers and university workers in this century of artificial intelligence and other industrial revolutions!  It should not be difficult for us to think beyond strike and outside the box and solve this problem from the root within the ambit of the granted autonomy!

Dele Falebita can be reached at delefalebita@gmail.com