By Joseph Joy

In the annals of Nigerian academia, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has emerged as a key player, passionately advocating for the welfare and interests of academic staff since its establishment in 1978. As the custodians of knowledge and mentors to the nation’s future leaders, the union’s journey has been marked by a recurrent and tumultuous dance with the Federal Government, a narrative that often unfolds in the form of strikes.

Picture this: 1999, the year the clock started ticking on what would become a series of disruptions to academic calendars. A five-month hiatus ensued, a foreshadowing of a pattern that would persist over the next two decades. Like a turbulent saga, the union and the government engaged in a complex dance, resulting in strikes of varying durations – each carrying its own set of grievances and promises.

In 2001, the rhythm changed but not the tune, as a three-month break marked another chapter in the struggle for better working conditions and increased funding for universities. It wasn’t just a fleeting discord; the echoes of disagreement reverberated in 2003 with a six-month strike. The years that followed witnessed a similar cadence of interruptions, varying from weeks to months, with each strike punctuating the plea for a resolution to perennial challenges.

Fast forward to 2020, a year that etched a historic nine-month hiatus into the academic landscape. The strife between ASUU and the Federal Government reached a crescendo, leaving students in limbo and the nation questioning the sustainability of this recurring discord.

While this chronicle of ASUU strikes paints a vivid picture of a persistent struggle, it intertwines with a recent development – a decision by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to grant universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education exemption from the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) payment platform. The move signifies an attempt to uphold the autonomy of tertiary institutions, a gesture welcomed by academic leaders seeking independence in personnel management.

However, against this backdrop of institutional autonomy, the effects of the prolonged ASUU strike are stark. Reports reveal a toll on academic staff, with instances of fatalities, sickness, and heightened psychological stress. The wastage of manpower and the subsequent reduction of morale among academic staff compound the challenges faced by public universities in Nigeria. Critical programmes, including staff development initiatives, have been suspended, contributing to a potential brain drain as academics explore opportunities abroad.

Moreover, the strike has led to the suspension of teaching and research programmes, disrupting the academic calendar and impacting students. The ripple effects are far-reaching, affecting not only the immediate academic community but also raising concerns about the long-term consequences on the quality and competitiveness of Nigerian higher education.

As this intricate tapestry unfolds, the history of ASUU and the recent FEC decision become threads in the larger narrative of Nigeria’s quest for a harmonious and effective higher education system. The challenges are evident, but the path to resolution lies in comprehensive reforms that address the longstanding concerns of academic staff and ensure the sustained and uninterrupted functioning of higher education institutions in the country.

After all, when two elephants engage in a fight, it always the grasses beneath them that bear the brunt. It is time to allow students breathe.