ASUU under Ogunyemi: The academic Generalissimo and his wars
By Toyin Falola
Professor Abiodun Ogunyemi is an academically published professor of education at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. Beyond his academic expertise in education studies, he is the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), one of Nigeriaâs strongest trade unions. ASUU is a body concerned about the welfare of its members and the protection of the quality of higher education in the country. Many people have argued that ASUU is only interested in stomach infrastructure; however, Prof. Ogunyemi refuted this allegation, explaining that ASUUâs demands extend beyond agitating for salary matters. Nigeria is a peculiar country where workers hardly earn the worth of their professional output, and even at that, they get owed large arrears of their earned salaries, allowances, and benefits. But despite that, for Prof. Ogunyemi, ASUU has never embarked on prolonged negotiations and strike actions just because of salaries but to advocate for the fair treatment of its members and proper funding and infrastructural developments in the educational sector.
What does it mean to be the Generalissimo of academics fighting for fair treatment and educational transformation? What does it mean to lead trade-union affronts on the federal government? What does it take to lead the struggle for the betterment of your co-workers in the face of a society that believes your union is wicked and selfish? In the latest of the Toyin Falola Interviews, Prof. Ogunyemi speaks about a range of issues put forward by interviewers, students, and academic stakeholders on his life, work, position, roles, and what it means to be the President of ASUU. The National Association of University Teachers (NAUT) was the initial trade union for academics in Nigerian universities; however, this body metamorphosed into ASUU. This transition did not stop at bringing about a change of name; it also brought about a change in ideals and strategies.
According to the professor, ASUU is a body that fights to create better teaching-learning environments in our universities. How far has the body gone in its fight for conducive learning spaces, seeing as many of our university campuses are underdeveloped? On ASUUâs fight for conducive learning spaces, Prof. Ogunyemi says that ASUU preoccupies itself with securing the welfare of its members and ensuring that our universities run well. Research, community development, and teaching are the three fundamental roles the average university plays in the nation, and if any university is found wanting in these three areas, then it should not be considered as functional. Prof. Ogunyemi comments that ASUU must keep fighting to ensure that all universities in the country meet these three criteria to a considerable extent.
To Ogunyemi, ASUU identifies with the masses and strives for the emancipation of the poor. To him, education must be accessible. The members, he insists, represent the interests of the people. What is the gown without the town? Of what use are research endeavors and discoveries if they are not to the benefit of society? What is the social relevance of a scholar if their theories and findings do not serve to improve society? Prof. Ogunyemi claims that these are the questions that drive ASUU in its pursuits and advocacies.
Challenges help an organization in its retrospection and forward-thinking endeavors. An organization that does not look back to consider its challenges will have problems surmounting the bigger challenges that await it in the future. ASUU, as a body, has had its challengesâright from the military era up until the post-military and almost pseudo-democratic days. One of such challenges is the continuing disregard for the education sector by the Nigerian governments. Governments are being succeeded, and power is changing hands, yet the attitude towards education has not changed. It has been the same lackadaisical and laissez-fair attitude towards investing in the nationâs education sector. However, no oppressor wants a vocal victim. The moment victims know their rights and stand up to oppression, the oppressor becomes more vicious and tightens the grip the more.
Nigeria has witnessed both military and democratic rule, and one of the surviving organizations that witnessed both styles of government in Nigeria is ASUU. ASUU started its confrontation during the military era when dictatorial regimes jeopardized the education sector. And so started the long-term struggles with governments, the most recent being the 2020 struggle with the Buhari administration.
We must then ask ourselves if there are any remarkable differences between the military and democratic dispensations in terms of education and education investment in Nigeria. For Prof. Ogunyemi, there is no marked difference. As far as the universities are concerned, the military and democratic governments are the same. The only difference is that while one threatens forced submission by withholding salaries and banning the association, the other uses less force. A military-era orientation, Ogunyemi argues, continues.
Prof. Ogunyemi maintains that there has not been a paradigm shift in the perception and conduct of Nigerian political leaders since the military era. So, can our universities become autonomous? Should they become autonomous? In the continual autonomy-for-universities debate, Prof. Ogunyemi holds that the government always seeks to impose policies that are not favorable to the system. He cites the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) as one of such policies. This is a policy that ASUU has been fighting against for the past five years, and which has led to the withdrawal of salaries and earned allowances for months as a way of forcing them to agree to the policy. ASUU believes that the IPPIS will cripple the university system.
ASUU has, over time, been condemned for its strategy of last resort: strike actions that rupture academic calendars. Nonetheless, Prof. Ogunyemi strongly believes that all ASUU measures are ultimately for the good of society and the academic system. This means that while the academic calendar may run smoothly if there are no strikes, the consequences will be to accept low-quality education.
To Ogunyemi, strikes work. TETFUND, which is largely the major source of funding for infrastructural projects in Nigerian universities, came into existence due to ASUUâs strike actions. Nonetheless, parents and students are always concerned about the continuous and disruptive nature of these strikes, which have led to the increase in the number of private universities and enrollment in these schools. What is ASUUâs fate in the face of the rise of private schools? Prof. Ogunyemi states that the socioeconomic situation of Nigeria would not allow for the dominance of private universities. Even though there are over 100 private universities in Nigeria, private universities still have less than five percent of the total student population.
Following the Unionâs latest strike action, which lasted from March to December 2020 before it was suspended, the federal government released 20 billion naira to the universities. Prof. Ogunyemi discloses that he has gone on monitoring rounds across Nigerian universities to see how well the schools have put the money to use. He expresses his satisfaction in seeing that while some schools have equipped their laboratories, others have erected infrastructure to better the pre-existing conditions.
The Toyin Falola Interview with Prof. Ogunyemi was eye-opening, putting many things into perspective. Beyond that, it brought about the revelation of suggestions and ideas that could help the Academic Staff Union of Universities go about their agitations in a better way. The interview is a compelling four hoursâ round of questions, answers, comments, and revelations. If you could not join it live, you can find it on YouTube.
(This is the first report on the interview conducted with Professor Abiodun Ogunyemi on April 25, 2021) For its entire recording, see  Facebook: https://fb.watch/55x9BZoe7s/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/bVgqJZYyEPg)
