Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU should retreat but not surrender! Their continued grandstanding makes the Union insensitive because you can not achieve a hundred percent at a negotiating table.
They are becoming part of the rudderless government if they maintain no retreat and no surrender at this critical point where the economy is in shambles and students might be forced to deny them if this persists.
Six months is not a joke. I am one person who is involved on both sides. My wife is a university staff member without pay for months and I have been denied my Ph.D. pursuit. The psychological effect is palpable to those of us who have to bear the brunt of a dysfunctional system.
I don’t blame ASUU at all but only appeal to the Union to shift ground and fight another day as I understand their plights because there is no stop to academic work where you stopped you continue whenever you resume and making them forgo those salaries makes no sense.
For instance, if students have written examinations and there was a strike you don’t abandoned the examination and move to the next season or session when strike is called off , you have to complete the backlog of the papers / session unfinished. Or do the government wants the union to give automatic pass to all the students examinations and projects defense?
The relevant Ministry should negotiate the term of payment for those months owed the Unions while on strike because the rule of no work , no pay is not applicable here but a common ground will suffice to push our economy and country forwards.
I suggest that government can negotiate half payment for those months or just basic without allowances to move pass this impasse .
Lastly, Life is made of ever so
many partings welded
together.
Tife Owolabi
@tifeowolabi
