ASUU...Breaking it down to its tiny bits

 Many are ignorant of what ACADEMIC WORK is all about.

Academic work is not FACTORY WORK.  ASUU strike is not  a strike by Post-office workers, or strike by Textile workers. Yes,  during ASUU Strike, Lectures do not take place and  Students are not graduated.

 But SERIOUS MANDATORY RESEARCH never stops.

 CONTINUED EDUCATION of individual Academics for sharpening proficiency never stops. 

 GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT of Academic units with the GRID of International Academia never stops.

The very day Mandatory  Research, Continued honing of skills and  Engagement with Global Academia stop   in a University  that is the day the University ceases to be a University. 

The University is a totally different entity in the scheme of things. Its work, its modus operandi and its goals are unique in Society. You can't  treat a University as a Railway station, a Tricycle  manufacturing company or a  Cocoa processing factory. The average Academic does not work 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.  He or she works 24 hours many days in a week.   A Lecturer  may be locked up in the Lab or be  hunched  over his/her computer at home up till 3am or 5:30am for  3 to 4 days or  occassionally 6 days in a week; because his/her academic responsibilities compel him or her.

 Woe betides that lecturer who loathes such regular sacrifices critical for the sustenance of his/her quality of research, intellectual proficiency and connectivity to the Grid of  international Academia.  RESEARCH, PROFICIENCY SHARPENING, & INTEGRATION INTO THE GLOBAL ACADEMIA GRID constitute the HEART BEAT  of any University. When the Heart beat ceases for any reason, the University dies. In any University "Strike",  the Heart beat goes on. Yes, there are  no Lectures and no Graduations during strikes but the Heart beat goes on.

I now wish to address what is called "ASUU STRIKE"; a phenomenon that is grosssly distorted by Government,  mostly misunderstood by stakeholders, (Parents, Students, Society), and viciously weaponised by  Bureaucrats and despicable mischief makers.

What is often called "ASUU STRIKE" is actually WHISTLE BLOWING; not irresponsible  French Leave or Dereliction of duty. 

Before any ASUU strike, relevant Government agencies are informed and informed repeatedly, of failure of Government to meet its statutory obligations and the way such dereliction of duty on the part of the Government  is negatively impacting Academia and the quality of graduates spewed out of Universities. ASUU is drawing attention to failure to meet legal obligations and the danger to society of poor quality graduates. There are two issues here : (1) LEGAL, (2) MORAL.

 ASUU is saying, Sir, there is a BREACH OF CONTRACT, please rectify it ASAP.  This negligence is negatively impacting our ability to produce quality graduates and ipso facto damaging the society at large. We shall not be party to this assault on the Nation.  This is  shortchanging  critical stakeholders and this is mortgaging of the soul of the nation. We shall therefore halt production of dangerous, inept and compromised graduates until such a time as relevant Government agencies meet their statutory obligations  and create the enabling environment for the production of quality graduates. 

ASUU BLEW THE WHISTLE ON ITS EMPLOYER.

It was an Intellectual  duty. It was a patriotic initiative. It was a moral imperative. 

That Government has finally agreed to virtually all the "DEMANDS OF ASUU"  is confirmation (1) that  Government was guilty as charged of dereliction of duty, (2) that Government was in breach of legally binding agreements and (3) that Government is liable to damages for breach of contract and endangerment of Society.

For perspectives let's  look at one Scenario.

A group of workers  discovered an unacceptable level of Mercury in packaged  Sardinns. The workers informed the Management and asked the Management to meet its obligation to fund the Quality control protocols of the factory. For months Management refused to respond and insisted Sardines must continue to be profuced for local and international Markets The workers gave notice that if Management does not respond appropriately by a certain date, they will not in good conscience continue to package Mercury-tainted Sardinns. Management refused to budge. Workers shut down production. Management  called for negotiation, agreed they were at fault,  released funds for robust Quality control protocols  to ensure Mercury free Sardin but said they would not pay salaries for the eight months that the factory was shut down.  The workers went to court to sue Management for (1) breach of contract to provide funds for Quality control Protocols that Management agreed to  in previous agreements with workers (2) damages for blackmailing workers to compel them to participate in the criminal production of

 poisoned Sardines, (3) damages for  endangering health and lives of  consumers of Sardines at home and abroad.

Wistle blowers are not villains. They are Heroes.  They have the higher moral ground. Wistleblowing must never be criminalised. It ought to be applauded, celebrated and generously compensated.

One final note. The withheld ASUU salary has been budgeted for and remains in the Treasury.

 If not given to the  true owners it will never be returned to the Treasury.  

It will disappear into the accursed bellies of a few diabolic Bureaucrats   who were originally responsible for the cruel, criminal and callous misdemeanour and shameful display of buffoonery by the  Government  for several months. It would tantamount to abdication of both Common sense and betrayal of the Nation to  allow Government to get away with this shenanigan. 

Mr Ayo Odewumi