In a pronouncement dripping with the tone of a military dictator, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State summarily proscribed the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Kogi State University chapter, over its prolonged strike.
The union had refused to yield to all government’s overtures to make its members return to work after seven months of strike. All the union’s activities were declared illegal with effect from July 19, 2017. Lecturers who failed to resume their academic duties after the “proclamation,” were deemed to have disengaged from the university, and the institution’s management was directed to replace such lecturers.
Governor Bello said his actions were in the students’ interest. Despite the government meeting 90 per cent of its demands, the union remained adamant. We frown at this undue hard line stance, and call on the union to immediately call its members back to duty in the interest of all concerned. It is only the spirit of compromise that settles all kinds of rifts amicably.
As Visitor to the university, the Governor has the responsibility of ensuring peace and orderly smooth running of academic activities. Despite the state’s financial challenges it is gratifying that lecturers are not owed any arrears of salary.
It is however emphasised that conducive atmosphere for learning in higher institutions thrives where there is a modicum of academic freedom. This involves the right of academic and non-academic staff to associate and belong to relevant unions.
It is therefore worrisome that Governor Bello decided to deny lecturers in the university their freedom of association which is constitutionally guaranteed as a fundamental right. He is a democratically-elected civilian Governor of Kogi State and he owes the citizens of the state a duty to uphold the constitution from which derives his legitimacy. Clamping down on union activities will only exacerbate the situation and prolong the strike.
Governor Bello is not a military administrator. He should resolve his differences with the unions through constructive engagement and not dictatorial tactics. The impression created is that the move against the union has political undertone as one of the governor’s aides suggested.
We caution that Governor Bello should not add ASUU to the list of problems he has to solve.We call on him to reconsider the decision and allow peace to reign in the citadel of learning.
The lecturers should be reasonable in their demands and be guarded in their utterances. They should not allow ego or other selfish interests outside academic pursuits to influence their actions. While this unnecessary standoff continues it is the students who have already lost a lot of ground in their academic pursuits that will continue to suffer.
Both sides should give peace a chance.
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