The academic staff union of universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government have been at logger heads for quite some time owing to issues involving rumination, entitlements, and infrastructural developments amongst others. Of all arguments and debates which have been swept under the carpet, the recent one emanating from the accumulation of failed promises seem to be more pressing and indisputably unbearable such that the union seem to have drawn a battle line between the government and itself.
Since the commencement of the indefinite strike which has generated lots of setbacks for students and lecturers as well, the federal government is yet to completely clear it of the numerous accusations labeled against it by the union. Rather, reports of purported amounts of money being issued out to the former by the later to quench their fire of differences is being announced daily.
All too often, these are differences between what we think, what we say and what we think we have said. This same difference is applicable to how we feel we have handled people and how they think they have been handled. When such gaps occur between the intent and the action, it is often stated that there have been a break-down in communication, and when the break down is allowed to become so serious that the gap becomes a chasm, it often results in management and trade union refusing to meet, relatives in a family ceasing to speak to one another and other cases similar to that of ASUU and the government.
The case on ground which has protracted for years and given rise to the total suspension of academic activities in institutions, though defined, is yet to be rectified.,
It is obvious that the financing of the university is as difficult as establishing it and as such, the issue of keeping it going will always be a tasking one not only because of the need for it to maintain a level of independence that allows for the thriving of intellectual pursuit, but also for the size of finding that is required to maintain an acceptable level of infrastructure in a modern university. High, the experience of the Nigerian university in recent time has in this regards, been alarming
The funding levels required constitute sufficient reasons for diversifying the sources. The fact that the government is buoyant enough to shoulder the funding of the university on its own is unarguable but if this is to be case, the university stands a chance of losing its total autonomy and independence. Already, the excessive interference by the government, I dare say, is enough trouble for the university and a cause of the recurrent indifference between both parties.
The University, according to onosode G.O in “the politics of managing people, prospects and poverty: the Role of the University should seek to become independent in a substantial way, on funds generated from within that is the sources of funding the university should be diversified as much as possible between the industry, the government, the students and individuals as well. If students should contribute to the school funding by means of purchasing an economic good for meeting their own needs with the expectation that they will be satisfied with the product purchased, individuals and industries should contribute to support a cause that would be of great benefit to their future and the government being the queen mother should also contribute as an expression of its obligation to promote the general welfare of the society.
Since the Union is not properly gratified she could liken her job to that of a nanny who is paid to look after a youngster who will be at her mercy if she is not encouraged in her Job.
The government should know that failure to settle the union denotes an inconsiderate attitude to their toilsome labour since the task of teaching is rigorous and challenging. The government should also note the dearth of infrastructures and manpower in institution bedevils the progress of education in Nigeria and the motivation to study and read away from the academic environment is often mesmerized such that at the expiration of strike, students may not be able to perform excellently especially if the strike occurred towards examinations period.
On the other hand, the union should consider their role in leaders’ upbringing as paramount and unbeatable whereby the quest for rights and entitlements should not be given more priority than the discharge of their duties. They should not also retard the academic growth of students by taking retributive measures which their students do not deserve. The Union should know that when two elephants are engaged in a combat, the impact is largely felt by the trampled grasses irrespective of who wins or fails.
As a final word, when people communicate, either as individuals or within groups, problems inevitably occur, instructors may be impossible to carry out, office is taken to carry out, office is taken at a particular remark, a directive ambiguously phrased and people’s attitudes are coloured by Jealousy, resentment and frustration. No better solution can be offered in such cases as dialogue on this, the gap between conflicting individuals can be bridged and peace will also be restored for the good of others.
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