COEASU 7-DAY WARNING STRIKE:GOVERNMENT MUST MEET TEACHERS' DEMANDS IMMEDIATELY

       THE STRIKE FURTHER DEMONSTRATES THE UTTER FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT

PRESS STATEMENT

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has embarked on a 7-day warning strike to compel the federal and state governments to meet its demands. The union is demanding, among other things, the implementation of the agreement the federal government signed with it in 2010, the repositioning of infrastructure, teaching and learning conditions as well as improvement in working conditions in all Federal and state-owned Colleges of education across the country. 

We in the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) support the demands and strike action of COEASU. This is just a 7-day warning strike. The ball is now in the court of the federal and state governments to avert a full blown strike. This is why the ERC calls on both the Federal and State governments to urgently meet the demands of the striking College of Education lecturers.

The chain of industrial actions in the education sector only confirms the pro-rich and anti-poor disposition of government towards public education at all levels in Nigeria. The nonchalant attitude of government towards the ultimatums and demands of COEASU shows that a properly-funded, free and quality education is not a priority of the present government at Federal and state levels. It is only actions like this, by unions in the education sector who are endangered by the underfunding of education, which can call the attention of government towards the desires of Nigerians for free and quality education.

While COEASU is now declaring a warning strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on a total strike for nearly three months over non-implementation of a federal government agreement with the union. Indeed, the crisis in the education sector is pervasive. This explains why other unions in the sector like NASU, SSANU and ASUP are also warming up to join the string of strike actions. Besides, SSANIP and ASUP  had just in July suspended strike actions that shut down polytechnics nationwide for three months while the NUT also embarked on strike action in a number of states.   

It is very clear that these unions are not just being belligerent; instead they are being forced by the insincerity of government towards signed agreements to resort to strikes to demand their rights to better pay and working conditions. 

We call on COEASU to adopt a programmatic method of prosecuting this strike by immediately declaring days of mass protest, and join forces with other unions in the education sector to save public education in Nigeria. This is even very necessary now since all the demands of the various unions in the education sector centre on the proper funding of education and its democratic management. Hence, COEASU must take this step, link up with other unions and set out joint program of actions.

Nigerian students must not be left out in this struggle for the betterment of the education sector. Colleges of education students must not maintain neutrality during this strike. Students must support and join the struggle for adequate funding of public education and democratic running of schools. In fact Nigerian students are mostly at the receiving end of poor academic infrastructure and harsh learning conditions. We in the ERC call on the Nigerian masses and working parents to support this ongoing strike, and call on government to meet the demands of all striking education workers.  

Hassan Taiwo Soweto                                                                                  

National Coordinator                                                          

07033697259

ERC Holiday Coaching:FlexyKlin donates to Ajegunle Students

Students pose with cleaning items

A dynamic cleaning company in Nigeria, Flexyklin Nigeria Ltd on Wednesday September 4, 2013 donated cleaning and writing materials to students participating in the ongoing free holiday coaching at Ajegunle, Lagos state organized by the Education Rights Campaign (ERC).

In his presentation, the Managing Director, Mr. Olawale Saheed Adebayo encouraged the students to embrace cleanliness in their respective homes and communities. He mentioned that the importance of cleanliness cannot be over-emphasized:

“The significance of cleaning and hygiene cannot be overlooked by any society. Every faith and civilization stresses the importance of cleanliness. Historically cleanliness has been considered one of the important factors by which to judge a society’s development”

Mr Olawale Saheed Adebayo, Managing Director FlexyKlin

He highlighted the benefits of cleanliness as “promotion of health and environmental sustainability”. He concluded that by adopting a clean and hygiene lifestyle, a valuable amount can also be saved where health issues are concerned.

Students listening to the presentation

He also commended the ERC for initiating and sustaining the programme. In his response, Dagga Tolar, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) – Ajeromi Ifelodun Chapter and one of the organizers of the programme appreciated the kind gesture of Flexyklin and enjoined the students to heed all the cleaning tips proposed.

Dagga Tolar

The closing ceremony of the six-week long holiday coaching will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.

LABARAN MAKU'S SCAREMONGERING ON ASUU STRIKE

GOVT CAN SHUT DOWN IF IT MUST; IT WOULD BE GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH

On 4th September, 2013, the Minister of information Mr. Labaran Maku in an attempt to give false impression that ASUU/FGN agreement is not implementable, declared that government activities could shut down if all demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were to be met. To us in the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), our simple response is: government should shutdown if it must; it would simply be good riddance to bad rubbish.

If this government could spend over N3 trillion between 2009 and now to bail out failed banks and did not shut down; if this government could spend over $1billion to buy over warlords and militants from Niger Delta under a fraudulent amnesty program and yet did not go bankrupt; if this government could spend annually a sum of N1.3 trillion on members of the National Assembly and the economy is not leaking as a result; if the unconstitutional office of the first lady could draw funds from public purse to finance her profligacies and yet government has not shutdown; and finally if a small clique of politicians and oil marketers could steal over $7billion from the oil subsidy funds and the economy did not fail; then we fail to see the wisdom in Mr. Labaran Maku's claim that spending just N500 billion annually on University education is what would sink the ship of this government.

The minister has tried to use the excuse of spending on the war against Boko Haram to justify government crass irresponsibility towards public education. The reality however is that the fastest and most reliable antidote to Boko Haram and other ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria is expanding social services through increasing government investment in public education and job creation. Only social justice, not guns, will win the war on terror.

The virulent corruption and anti-poor policies of this clueless capitalist government has become so unbearable to the working masses and poor Nigerians that if not for a lack of organisation and a bold revolutionary leadership, this government should have been consigned to the dustbin of history a long time ago, not least since  January 2012. Every section of the oppressed population has grown tired of the anti-poor policies and failure of this government in the delivery of social programs like education, healthcare, good roads, electricity, water, accommodation and most importantly jobs. Therefore no one would mourn if this government shuts down, instead Nigerians would heave a sigh of relief and jubilate.

Meanwhile, all these are propaganda by the government to blackmail University lecturers and also prepare public opinion for an all-out assault to break the strike. The ERC again restate its warnings to the government not to attempt to break the strike. We call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to immediately declare a general strike and mass protest in solidarity with ASUU.

The ERC urge ASUU to continue to stand firm and not to allow itself and its members to be blackmailed. Already ASUU does not want to call for protests and demonstrations because of government's accusations and blackmail that the opposition have infiltrated ASUU. In January 2012 during the anti-fuel price struggle, the government made similar accusations which led to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to hastily call off  the general strike. Today, Nigerians are the worst for it.

Retreating in the face of government's propaganda and blackmail is never an effective way to struggle and wearing padded gloves to engage in battle a government armed with spiked cudgels is the fastest path to a devastating defeat. By remaining on a sit-at-home strike instead of calling for mass protests and demonstrations, ASUU is slowly yielding the ground for government propaganda to sell.

Therefore, the ERC urge ASUU to boldly answer government blackmail of infiltration by opposition with a call for a nationwide public demonstration to show that not only is it still in firm control of its strike but that it is also capable of unleashing a mass movement to compel this government to use Nigeria's resources otherwise routinely looted to fund public education.

ASUU as a result of its history of defence of education has the credibility and authority to lead a mass movement to save public education. Therefore ASUU must name and begin to actively mobilise its members as well as all Nigerians who desire a permanent end to the crisis rocking Nigeria public education for a day for a nationwide mass protest and demonstration to show to the government that if it continues its irresponsibility towards public education, shutting down would be the least of its worries as it would risk being kicked out by a mass movement.

                                                                                             

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Hassan Taiwo Soweto                                                                                                      

National Coordinator                                                                      

07033697259

ASUU Strike: Mass Struggle Needed to Break The Deadlock!

We  Warn Government Not To Attempt To Break The Strike

We Call on ASUU To Name a Day for Nationwide Mass Protest and Demonstration

Press Statement

From all indications, negotiation between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has broken down. Instead of the usual plea for patience and understanding from members of the public, what we now hear from top government officials are threats, blackmails and street-gutter propaganda.

The meeting, last week, between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Pius Anyim and Universities’ Governing Councils and Vice Chancellors is a clear indication that the Federal Government is seriously considering forcing ASUU back to work. In 2009, similar efforts were made which led to the opening of attendance registers on campuses and the threat of "No Work, No Pay".

The ERC warns the Federal Government not to make any attempt whatsoever to force, hoodwink or arm-twist striking University lecturers back to work. In any case, such attempt will be defeated by the determination of the striking University lecturers and the solidarity of students and working class parents who are deeply concerned about the abject condition of public education and the unconcerned attitude of the President Jonathan's Federal Government.

Perhaps nothing better demonstrates the contempt that government has for public education than its offer of a measly N130 billion. If the truth must be told, this amount being offered by the government to meet the dire infrastructural deficit in the Nation's Universities as well settle backlog of earned allowance is too little to make any impact. Indeed it amounts to dousing a roaring fire with spittle. If the government could bail out failed banks with over N3 trillion since 2009 and yet could only raise a pitiful N100 billion to save our collapsing Universities, then it is already clear what the priorities of the government are. No doubt, the government cares for bankers and moneybags but has little or no regard for public education.

However the ERC also believes that ASUU's responses to Government's mounting threat and intimidation have been weak and slow. ASUU by virtue of its on-going strike is leading a movement - supported by many including students, parents and concerned Nigerians - to make government to recognise its responsibility to the funding and provision of quality, standard and accessible public education. As a result,  ASUU has the responsibility to win this struggle not just for its members sake but also for the sake of working class Nigerians who have no other option than public schools. People want to see the government held to account over its wasteful spending and looting of the treasury while public education suffers. People want to see our public schools transformed in terms of facilities and infrastructures after this strike. Any other outcome will be unsatisfactory to many.

Therefore it is ever-more incumbent on ASUU to come up with a fighting strategy and programs of action that can defeat the government and compel it to use  Nigeria's immense resources to fund public education. This is why the ERC urges ASUU to immediately name and begin to actively mobilise for a day of nationwide mass protest and demonstration that will see University lecturers, students and working class Nigerians march together in defense of public education.

We believe ASUU has the credibility and political authority to call Nigerians out to protest to save public education. If ASUU fully mobilises its own members and actively mobilise Nigerians to come out on a given day to protest and demand better funding of education, the response will be massive.

However it goes without saying that the strikes ravaging the education sector have exposed the President Jonathan's government as an anti-education government. No matter how much his spokespeople try to varnish the truth, nothing can hide the fact that President Jonathan's government is an anti-poor capitalist government that holds public education as well as the teachers and students in contempt. Otherwise how do you explain the litany of unimplemented promises reached with various unions in the education sector?

An example is the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) which suspended its strike for a month to allow government fulfill its promises. Up till now the demands of ASUP has not been met meaning that the Nation's Polytechnic could be shut dow all over again. Similarly, the College of Education Academic Staff Unions (COEASU) is gearing up for a strike over same grouse of unimplemented agreement.

We call on all the  Unions in the education sector to unite together to fight the government. What this means is that all the Unions in the education sector need to come together and work out a joint plan of struggle through which governments neo-liberal and anti-poor education attacks can be resisted.

We also call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare a one-day solidarity general strike and mass protest to back ASUU and other unions fighting to save public education. However struggling for improvement in the funding of education is not enough, also crucial is the need to insist on the democratic running of schools by elected committees of students, teachers and communities. Only this can ensure that funds are not squandered but are judiciously utilised to meet the real needs of public schools.

Hassan Taiwo Soweto                                                                                                      

National Coordinator                                                                      

07033697259