A university don and former member of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) governing council, Dr. Saminu Dagari has strongly criticised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for its on-going strike, warning that it is risking proscription.
Dr. Dagari, in a statement made available to The Lagos Times, also warned the Nigerian Labour Progress (NLC) against making matters worse with its solidarity strike planned for Tuesday and Wednesday, July 26 and 27.
In the statement, Dagari noted that ASUU went on strike on February 14, 2022 without giving 15-days notice as required by law, adding that it was not even supposed to be on strike while negotiations are on.
On the issue of Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), the adoption of which is one of the main demands of ASUU, Dagari said “the provisions of 2007 Autonomy Act are very clear. Universities have no financial Autonomy. Government is very mindful of its ultimate power of control over the Universities.
“So far, Government has been very considerate, not to open a can of worms, by withholding the reports of the Presidential Visitation Panels to Federal Universities, which are indeed very dirty.”
According to him, the core demand for which the Union went on strike is the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), adding “UTAS is illegal by provision of the 2007 University Autonomy Act. All other demands of ASUU are secondary.”
He said the strike by ASUU since February 14, 2022, has inflicted untold pains on students and parents, adding that some members of the union are not happy with what is going on.
According to him, Section 14(1) of the 2004 Trade Disputes Act stipulates that 15 days’ notice must be given by workers in essential services before ceasing work.
He stated that “during the 2020 COVID-19 period, ASUU went on strike, a strike that was not necessary when people were sitting at home. The striking lecturers were paid for 7 months, courtesy of clemency by the President, following a plea by the Minister of Labour and Employment.”
According to him, “Section (1) of the 2004 Trade Disputes Act empowers the President to proscribe trade unions or associations, ” If the President is satisfied that any trade union or association, any of the members of which are employed in any essential service-
a) is or has been engaged in acts calculated to disrupt the economy or acts calculated to obstruct or disrupt the smooth running of any essential service, or
b) has, where applicable, wilfully failed to comply with the procedure specified in the Trade Disputes Act in relation to the reporting and settlement disputes,he may by order published in the Federal Gazette proscribe the trade union or association ( in this Act referred to as “the proscribed organization”) and the proscribed organization shall, as from the date of the order, cease to exist.”
He warned the NLC and its affiliates against their planned strike and protests across the country, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, as that would only make matters worse.
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the planned solidarity strike by NLC, and urges workers not to join.
