An Arise TV interview of Thursday, July 14, 2022, featuring the Honorable Minister of Labor and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, and the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, made very interesting viewing. It puts in bold relief the real reasons why millions of students of Nigerian public universities have been at home for 5 months and may stay home much longer. In summary, the Federal Government is incompetent, insensitive and clueless on the duties of government.
The Honorable Minister, speaking on behalf of the Government, said the Briggs Committee, appointed to mediate and make recommendations for resolving the trade dispute, was hijacked by ASUU and submitted a report that will throw the university system, the entire labor force and the national treasury into crisis.
In other words, we’re not nearer the goal of reopening our national universities today than we were the day the strikes began in February! The following questions therefore arise:
- Who appointed the Briggs Committee?
- Did Prof Briggs work alone without inputs from representatives of critical MDA whose membership of the committee was to provide guidance towards a balanced and practicable report?
- If Prof. Briggs worked alone and in cahoot with ASUU, why didn’t the FG remedy this anomaly administratively in the course of the committee’s work?
- Why did the FG wait for the committee to “proceed in error” for months and submit its report, only to rubbish its recommendations and the reputation of its chairman whom it appointed?
- What about the other substantive issues in ASUU’s bucket list – like UTAS? What progress has been made on the matter of an appropriate salary platform for university staff after all these months?
- What is the end game of the FG and its inter ministerial delegation in these negotiations? Is it to frustrate ASUU, NASU and other striking university unions? Is it to keep students of public tertiary institutions at home indefinitely? Is it to win a game of wits against the academics and “put them in their place”? Or is it to resolve pending disputes and get the educational system working properly?
From all indications, it is now clear that the FG team under the Minister of Labor & Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, has lost its way and become a stumbling block to the negotiation process and to industrial harmony in Nigeria. Dr. Ngige conducted himself with great indignity and lack of decorum throughout the televised interview under reference. He personalized a national conversation.
He came off as an aggrieved, bellicose and belligerent party. His argument had gaping holes and looked more like attempted blackmail. Dr. Ngige and his ilk should therefore be fired or immediately excused and replaced. They are no longer emotionally, professionally and operationally fit to discharge this duty.
Even more importantly, the President and Commander in Chief should take notice that it is not enough to stand aloof and issue opaque statements on this burning national issue. The buck stops on his table. The future of the crown jewel of Nigeria’s educational system is at stake here. We’ve never had it so bad. So far, on this task, Mr. President has failed woefully as head of government.
If he has no capacity or will to resolve this (and other major challenges facing the country), the only honorable thing to do is to resign. By doing so, the country and its vital institutions are given a fair chance to survive and recover under a fresh and perhaps safer pair of hands.
It is not a matter of choice. It is a moral imperative and an obligation on any office holder with a conscience to voluntarily resign when s/he is no longer effective. Failing to do this, other institutions with a duty to check and balance the offending office holder are duty-bound to ease them out according to the constitution and in good conscience.
The British just showed a stellar example in the ouster of Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, for far less grievous failings. Sri Lankans just showed their own floundering government the way out through Peoples Power. Are we so shameless?
At the moment, Nigeria’s universities (not to mention its national security and economy) are in the throes of death and those responsible for safeguarding them are fiddling. They are even campaigning for party reelection in 2023. This is a terrible affront and a mark of disrespect to our dear country and its people. It is a signpost that for now personal, party and other narrow interests supersede national interest. This is repugnant and unacceptable.
Victor Anazonwu, a journalist and author, writes from Lagos.
