THE continued closure of public universities due to the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is an ill wind that blows no good. Not only will it worsen the deterioration of education especially at the tertiary level, it is capable of further complications, to the country's detriment. For once, government should address the problem squarely and listen to the protesting teachers towards finding a lasting solution.The strike is the culmination of an earlier one-week warning strike last September given to the Federal Government to implement the 2009 negotiated agreement with the university teachers. Incessantly, the academic staff in Nigeria's tertiary institutions have drawn the country's attention to the crises in the education sector almost to the point in which the organisation is painted as troublesome. There has been little conscious response from the government, other than mere promises, to the signals being sent by this organisation.The issue in the current industrial action embarked upon by ASUU raises important questions over the decadence in the education sector. ASUU entered into an agreement with the government in 2009 through the Gamaliel Onosode-led committee. The objectives of the negotiation were, among others, to arrest and reverse the decay in the university system in order to reposition it for greater responsibilities in national development by reversing the brain-drain, enhancing the remuneration of academic staff and disengaging them from the web of a unified civil service wage structure. It was also aimed at sustaining massive funding and restoring university autonomy. In order to realise these laudable objectives, ASUU and government agreed in specific terms that the Federal Government will progressively increase the budgetary allocation of education to meet the 26 per cent UNESCO recommendation by 2020.Although government responded to the salary component of the agreement, it has reneged on the funding requirements for invigorating the nation's university system. Similarly there has been no official response to the pact for transfer of Federal Government landed property to universities; Federal Government's general assistance to state governments for university and higher education as allowed by Section 164 (1) of the 1999 Constitution; payment of earned allowances, amendment of the pension/retirement age for academics on the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years and the review of NUC, JAMB and Education National Minimum Standard laws.On these demands, government has acted largely in bad faith. First, it disbanded the Onosode-led Committee that negotiated on its behalf; and in a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the university teachers, it requested that the existing FGN/ASUU Agreement 2009 Implementation Monitoring Committee should co-opt some key government bodies such as the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Budget Office. The committee was expected to conclude the discussion on the implementation of the agreement by November 22, 2011. The government defaulted, prompting the current industrial action of the teachers. However, the concern of ASUU on the current state of education is hardly disputable. Many experienced and notable teachers have migrated to other climes while parents responded by sending their children to good schools abroad and in neigbouring countries.Recently, it was revealed that Nigerians spent an estimated N155 billion yearly to obtain education in Ghana. This should worry every Nigerian, as no nation that desires a place in the 21st century global race toys with its education.The educational sector needs a complete overhaul. Massive funding is invaluable. ASUU has been forward looking in providing channels for funding education in the country, patronage of university services and private sector contributions. Beyond these, the required funds for education can be boosted if the cost of governance in the country is cut. There are excessive leakages in government business that need to be plugged in order to free scarce resources for education.Apart from its potential to worsen the crisis of education, a prolonged strike is not healthy for the security of the country. Keeping campuses closed has security implication. As crime records have shown, students have been implicated across the country in cases of kidnapping and armed robbery. It is not enough to put the whole national budget on hardware security issues while ignoring the most important security 'human security. It is high time government started thinking beyond its apparent disorientation.The National Assembly has already gone through the second reading of the bill on the retirement age of the university teachers. It would need to expedite action on it and put to rest that aspect of the teachers' demand. Government also needs to be reminded that the ASUU is not alone in these grievances, as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and their Non-Academic Staff (NASU) counterparts have their complaints. Government needs to respond in comprehensive manner to their demands.
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