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 build up 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 togain 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,
thestrike 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 union is me specially 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 behalfare quiet."
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