"The
Struggle to Liberate Education is a Struggle We Shall Continue to Prosecute No
Matter The Threat" - Nasir Fagge (ASUU President)
From
4 to 7 December 2013, Edo State was home to hundreds of striking University
lecturers, trade unionists, socialists and civil society activists. The event
was the burial of Prof Festus Iyayi. Iyayi was a University teacher, socialist,
former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 1986 and
a key participant in the on-going struggle of University teachers to save the
public university system. He died in an auto accident on November 12 caused by
the convoy of the Kogi State Governor Idris Wada while travelling alongside
other members of the union to Kano for a crucial meeting of ASUU's National
Executive Committee (NEC) where a decision was going to be taken about the strike.
The
one-week burial program opened on Wednesday 4th December with simultaneous mass
processions at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Ibadan (UI) and
the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED). Members of the Democratic
Socialist Movement (DSM) and Education Rights Campaign (ERC) intervened at the
December 4 mass procession at the University of Ibadan (UI) and the week-long
burial events in Benin, Edo State.
In
a way Festus Iyayi's death and particularly the emotion-laden burial has helped
to steel the resolve of a majority of ASUU members to continue the strike. A
lot of people believe that this was no ordinary auto crash and that somehow the
State killed him. Iyayi was one of the few that insisted the strike must go on
which reflected in the votes of the UNIBEN ASUU branch where the decision that
strike should continue won. The suspicion of foul play in his death is further
reinforced by two holes in his chest which reportedly pierced his heart. Many
suspect this could be attributed to a gunshot.
Whatever
is the cause, the combination of the suspicious death of Iyayi and the strike
threat being issued by the Federal Government has helped to radicalise a wide
layer of ASUU members. Two ultimatums have now been issued by Federal government
for lecturers to resume work. The first expired on December 4 while the second
ultimatum expired on December 9. So far, a few Universities have opened but
with no hope that lecturers would teach. While there are few defectors here and
there, the mass majority of University lecturers are strongly in support of the
strike. Reportedly at the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko (AAUA),
lectures held sparingly in just two faculties with a few lecturers, the Vice
Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor teaching! A point to note is that AAUA is
the State University in Ondo, the one state run by the Labour Party, and its
Vice-Chancellor, Governor Olusegun Mimiko's brother, has been publically
condemned by ASUU for insulting and hating its members.
Of
course the pro-government sections of the media are trying to blow out of
proportion what is really taking place in AAUA and a few other Universities
where actual efforts are being made to break the strike. The reality is that
the Federal government has put itself in a deeper crisis with the threat and
ultimatum. Now the government has two bad options: either it carries out its
threat to sack all lecturers bearing in mind the backlash this would most
certainly provoke or it retreats altogether which would make it lose face and
confirm that the government is indeed "weak".
Among
striking lecturers, there is huge support for the need to dare the Federal
Government. An attempt by a priest officiating at Iyayi's burial to urge ASUU
to suspend its strike was shouted down by the striking lecturers at the event.
Even the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was careful in his speech not to
draw the ire of the crowd. Such is the mood among the rank and file. The
challenge is how to translate this to mass actions that can defeat the
government. As Nasir Fagge, the President of ASUU declared on Thursday during
the public lecture organised at the auditorium of the University of Benin
(UNIBEN) in Iyayi's honour "I think it is about time we go out and
mobilise the Nigerian people". The ERC wholeheartedly welcomes this declaration.
In the coming weeks we shall be campaigning that ASUU names a day for
nationwide protests and demonstrations. Below we present reports from the two
centres where we intervened.
REPORT OF EDUCATION RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
(ERC) PARTICIPATION IN THE "AFTERNOON OF TRIBUTES" ORGANISED BY
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN (UI) CHAPTER OF ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES
(ASUU) TO HONOUR THE LATE PROF. FESTUS IYAYI.
By Kayode Salako
On
the 4th December, 2013, no fewer than 300 people including members of ASUU,
civil society and student organizations gathered at the University of Ibadan
(UI) at a programme tagged "an afternoon of tributes" organized by
the ASUU UI to honour one the former national Presidents of the union, Prof.
Festus Iyayi, who died on the 12th November 2013 in a suspicious motor accident
on his way to one of the national meetings of the union in Kano.
The
programme started at about 10:30am with solemn solidarity songs in a candle lit
mass possession which took off at the front of the former National Secretariat
of ASUU situated at the Mellanby Hall of the University and ended at the
Faculty of Arts Quadrangle.
Interestingly,
the Vice -chancellor of the university Prof. Isaac Adewole also joined the
procession which had ASUU members clad in academic gown as a sign of last
respect to the departed colleague who was generally acknowledged as an
exceptional academic scholar.
At
the Faculty of Arts Quadrangle, Dr `Segun Ajiboye (Chairman, ASUU, UI) in his
opening remark acknowledged the good work of Iyayi in the struggle for the
revitalization of public education in Nigeria. He urged ASUU members to remain
steadfast in the on-going struggle of ASUU and disregard the sack threat issued
by the federal government.
 |
| Dr Segun Ajiboye, ASUU Chair UI |
According
to Ajiboye, the ASUU will not call off its 5-month old strike action unless the
federal government implements the resolution of the last meeting with the
union. He also in his conclusion talked on the lecture delivered by Prof Festus
Iyayi 15 years ago. In this lecture titled "Of the Monsters and Demons in
the Nigerian University" Iyayi talked about the state agents, sycophants
in the Nigerian University. While he expressed how sad the death of Iyayi is,
members were encouraged not to mourn but to mobilize toward a total victory of
the struggle for the revitalization of public education in Nigeria.
On
his own part Dr. Sola Olorunyomi, while giving the citation of Prof. Festus
Iyayi appraised the work of Iyayi especially his role in all ASUU struggles
over the years. He did not forget to mention the Socialist disposition of the
late Iyayi and his long-term effort toward the formation of a workers'
political alternative.
Concerning
the sack threat issued by FG, he said ASUU members should not worry as it is
just an empty threat! He therefore urged members not to allow themselves to be
used as negative political tool against the interest of the union. He argued
for socialist transformation of Nigeria, which, according to him, raises the
urgent need for workers, youths, students and masses to have their own
political party.
 |
| Lecturers and activists gather at UI to celebrate Iyayi |
Many
other colleagues, collaborators, friends of the late Festus Iyayi, including
Femi Aborisade and Laoye Sanda from the Polytechnic Ibadan, were also
recognized to give tributes. Unfortunately, Comrade Abbey Trotsky, the
Secretary of Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) - CWI Nigeria - Oyo State
Chapter who was also listed to give tribute was unable to attend the programme
due to an unfortunate car accident he had on his way to the venue of the
programme.
Among
other highlights of the event were various poems and songs presentation by
Prof. Raji, Prof Francis Egbokhaire and others. Following the vote of thanks by
Dr Deji Omole (ASUU-UI Secretary) the programme was brought to an end with a
procession back to the ASUU Secretariat where ERC banner was visibly displayed.
At
the programme a thousand copies of ERC leaflets were distributed while 47
copies of "Socialist Democracy", the DSM's paper, were sold.
Noticeably, a copy of the new DSM publication titled "DSM and the struggle
for a working people's political alternative" was bought by a striking
ASUU member who pledged to pay a N10, 000 solidarity price.
BENIN: IYAYI LIVES ON!
By Ogundele Michael (ERC National Secretary)
Members
of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and Education Rights Campaign (ERC)
on Wednesday 4th, December, 2013 joined the ranks of ASUU members at the
University of Benin, Benin City, to mourn the passing of Prof. Festus Iyayi,
former national president of the union. Festus Iyayi was killed in an auto
accident caused by convoy of Kogi State governor on his way to ASUU NEC meeting
at BUK, Kano on 13th November, 2013. He was playing vital roles in the struggle
of ASUU most importantly as part of the negotiation team with the federal
government. Given the pivotal role played by Iyayi in ASUU's struggles and the
circumstances surrounding his death, the ranks of ASUU members generally
suspect that Iyayi was murdered by the state.
 |
| Dec 4 Procession in Benin |
The
burial programme began on Wednesday 4th of December 2013 with a mass procession
from Faculty of Social Sciences, UNIBEN. The ERC was present with a banner and
2,000 copies of leaflet titled: "NIGERIAN STUDENTS MORN IYAYI". Among
other things, the leaflet called on ASUU members to embark on a mass action to
defeat the sack threat issued by the federal government and also force the
implementation of the agreement. ASUU members, from and outside UNIBEN, in
their hundreds and dressed in black moved in a procession from the faculty to
the residence of the deceased. Placards with various messages like: "GOVT.
KILLED IYAYI", "IYAYI WAS MURDERED" among others were held by
ASUU members while chanting solidarity songs.
At
his residence, solidarity messages were given by members of ASUU, trade union
leaders, civil society activists, friends, sympathizers and relatives. Among
those that gave solidarity messages are: Abiodun Aremu (JAF National
Secretary), Femi Falana, Prof. Dele Fatunde, Promise Adewusi (Deputy President
of the Nigeria Labour Congress) etc.
The
crowd dispersed around 4pm and gathered again at the Faculty of Social Sciences
by 7:10pm for the candle lit procession. The procession moved to his personal
office at the Faculty of Law building and again to Department of Business
Management where he was the Head of Department. At the solidarity march, 20
copies of Socialist Democracy (SD) alongwith 2 copies of the new DSM
publication titled "DSM and the struggle for a working people's political
alternative" were sold.
Festus Iyayi: The Ideas We Must Not Forget
The
next day on Thursday 5th of December, a public lecture in honour of Iyayi was
held at the auditorium of the University of Benin. The guest lecturer was Odia
Ofeimun who spoke on the topic: Festus Iyayi - The Ideas We Must No Forget. The
lecture which was chaired by Prof Asisi Asobie was designed to feature the
roles and impacts played by Iyayi in his life time and more importantly to
further raise the consciousness of the rank and file of academic staff on the
need to be focused and determined in the struggle for mankind, following the
legacies and principles as laid down by Iyayi. At the lecture were the
national, zonal and branch leadership of ASUU including the ASUU president
Nasir Fagge, Dipo Fashina (former ASUU president and Chairman of the Joint
Action Front), Sule Kano (Former ASUU president). In his speech, Nasir Fagge
(ASUU president) vowed "The struggle to liberate education is a struggle
we shall continue to prosecute no matter the threat".
Comrade
H.T Soweto (The ERC National Coordinator) was invited to deliver a solidarity
message. In his speech, Soweto commended the principles Iyayi left behind and
encouraged the entirety of striking university lecturers to emulate and unite
in the struggle for revitalization of university system. To rousing applause,
Soweto said "We stand with ASUU in its struggle to save public education.
With this strike, ASUU is strengthening the confidence of the rest of the
oppressed masses that the anti-poor Jonathan government can be
challenged". He went further, "As I mentioned to the ASUU President a
while ago in a private discussion, you are helping to rehabilitate the
reputation of the labour movement which unfortunately lost some appeal to
ordinary Nigerians because of the NLC and TUC's leaders betrayal of the January
2012 general strike and mass protest against fuel subsidy removal. When the
working masses hit the street once again in protests and demonstrations to
reclaim Nigeria, they shall refer to your strike as the inspirer of their
renewed confidence that struggle can win". He further called on the
striking lecturers to embark on a mass action to defeat the sack threat issued
by the federal government. At the public lecture, 30 copies of Socialist
Democracy were sold.
 |
| HT Soweto at the Lecture organised in honour of Iyai |
On
Thursday afternoon at his residence, the crowd gathered again for the service
of songs and later in the evening, 7pm, for the tribute night where Soweto
spoke again. Also Lanre Arogundade, former President of the National
Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in 1984-85 and member of the Executive
Committee of the DSM spoke. Significantly, 10 copies of the new DSM publication
(DSM and the struggle for a working people's political alternative) were bought
by ASUU. This was at the instance of the ASUU president after we showed him the
publication.
On
Friday, there was a lying-in-state of Iyayi's corpse at the Uniben auditorium.
This event was addressed by the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole and
other dignitaries. A priest officiating at the lying-in-state who while
speaking tried to urge ASUU to suspend its strike was booed by the crowd. After
the lying-in-state, the corpse alongside with family and ASUU members started
the journey in a long motorcade to his hometown in Ugbekun, Edo State. On the
night of Friday, civil society activists and students organised a solidarity
night with singing and speeches in memory of Iyayi. John Odah (former General
Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress) spoke at this event. Odah went down
memory lane to describe how and when he met Iyayi. Waxing emotional, he also
mentioned that he and others then joined the NLC straight from the University
in order to build the labour movement to transform society along socialist
lines as Iyayi believed. He bemoaned the situation in the labour movement today
especially the abandoning of the building of the Labour Party (LP) to anti-poor
politicians. According to Odah, Iyayi was part of renewed efforts by the NLC
not long ago to reclaim the Labour Party but, according to him, this was
stalled because of the troubles that started soon after in the NLC.
 |
| Abiodun Aremu, JAF National Secretary |
Many
other activists and trade unionists like Abiodun Aremu (JAF Secretary) and the
president of hotel workers union presented tributes to Iyayi on this occasion.
Also student leaders and activists like Kazan - the PRO of the University of
Benin (UNIBEN) students Union, Inihebe Effiong - President of Students
Revolutionary Movement (SRM) from the University of Uyo and H.T Soweto (ERC
National Coordinator) also presented tributes.
After
three days of grueling but inspiring activities, Iyayi was finally laid to rest
in his hometown Ugbekun Edo State on Saturday 7 December 2013 to tears, singing
and a renewed commitment to immortalise him by redoubling the struggle for a
socialist transformation of Nigeria.
