THE sympathy strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities' (ASUU) members over the Rivers State University of Science and Technology crisis is both unnecessary and unacceptable, the Pro Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Dr Wale Babalakin, has declared.According to the Chairman of the Bi-Courtney Group, one of the problems confronting the country's education sector has been the cavalier attitude of two or more parties in a dispute, to the agreement they had signed. Babalakin, in an interaction with journalists in Lagos at the weekend, admitted that the last major strike embarked upon by ASUU members would not have occurred if the federal government had faithfully implemented its own side of the 2001 FG/ASUU agreement signed by both parties. But he also insisted that it was wrong, unfair and totally 'unacceptable' for the University teachers to embark on any sympathy strike over a problem in one University, since there was also no provision for that in the same agreement.Babalakin regretted that the various strikes embarked upon by University teachers over the years had hurt the system tremendously. He observed that the education sector, in its present form, was incapable of supporting the country's quest for total development. He was of the view that full autonomy was what the Universities need to transform themselves into the citadels of everybody's dream.On the notion that Pro-Chancellors were in the habit of hijacking University contracts and could make trouble for Vice Chancellors who try to resist them, Babalakin said he had never shown any interest in any contract at UNIMAID. On the contrary, he stated, he had personally helped the institution financially to bring about positive developments. For instance, he coordinated the construction of the Independent Power Project, which currently supplies 20 hours of uninterrupted electricity to the University. It was inaugurated in December, 2011.Besides, Babalakin said he donated over N13 million to the institution to execute various projects, including N12 million for upgrading the University library. Babalakin is also neither collecting any allowance from the University as Pro Chancellor, nor asking for reimbursement for any expenses incurred in the course of attending University functions.He also noted that before he assumed his position at the institution, the sight of a new car was not common. But today, he said, many new vehicles have been provided for the various departments, just as the institution's Internal Generated Revenue figures have improved.Babalakin, who also chairs of the Committee of Pro-chancellors of Nigerian Universities, said his role as Chairman of the Implementation Committee of the 2009 agreements, between the federal government and university-based unions, had led to stability in the university system.He praised President Goodluck Jonathan for following due process in matters relating to the university system, citing the example of when the universities' governing councils were dissolved. 'Once the President was informed that the governing councils had their terms, he reversed himself and brought the councils back,' he said. He also lauded the President for taking prompt action on the retirement age of the academic staff in the universities, which was one of the ASUU demands.
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