RSUST: Time For Truce

On Wednesday January 12, 2011, the 10th Governing Council of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt published an advertorial in some Newspapers stating their own side of the story in the lingering industrial action by members of the school’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (ASUU) respectively, threatening the very foundation of the school.
The council after stating some of the negative consequences that have arisen from the action gave the striking lecturers two weeks, which expires on Thursday January 27, 2011, to return to work or consider themselves as not being employees of the school anymore.
It went ahead to describe the indefinite strike action of the unions as illegal, as they failed to follow due process in embarking on their action.
On the other hand, the leadership of ASUU and NASU have insisted that they are striving to ensure that the school’s management and Rivers State government implement the 2009 Agreement the Federal government of Nigeria reached with their unions- ASUU, NASU, SSANU and NAAT, and maintenance of high standard and conducive learning environment in the school.
They further defended their position by saying that several attempts at addressing the issue with the state government did not succeed as there was no sincerity in attending to the problem.
The Tide is however, worried that the protracted industrial action which also affects the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education has caused so much pain and damage to the students of the institutions, and the integrity of the school.
The incessant strike has compelled students to stay out of school, wasting away and getting involved in avoidable vices while the institution lost one academic session in 2008. It is also in danger of losing another in 2010/2011. The school has also suffered delisting by the Joint Admission and matriculation Board, JAMB, from admitting new students and the inability of graduates to conclude their academic programmes and proceed to the compulsory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC programmes, as well as general poor rating.
We believe that it is time for all parties concerned in the impasse to sheath their sword, embrace dialogue and return to the negotiation table.
This is because we are convinced that all parties have the interest of the institution and students at heart. To a large extent, it is obvious that all the divides have a common focus to ensure that the higher institutions in the state maintain high standards devoid of avoidable strikes.
Unfortunately, the approach and understanding seem to be a hindrance. We are however, positive that various efforts by individuals, groups and organizations, including the Rivers State Trade Union Congress, TUC, led by its chairman, Comrade Chike Onuegbu, would yield the desired result.
Furthermore, now that the RSUST’s Governing Council, the employer of staff of the institution has come up with a position that the unions should call off the strike for negotiations to resume, we encourage ASUU and NASU to comply with the directive, especially, in the interest of the suffering students of the Institution.
We urge them to put behind any previous misunderstanding and ill-feeling and embrace the offer of dialogue considering their own conviction that dialogue remains a sure path to solving the crisis. We say so because it is only through sacrifices and commitment that the situation can be resolved. That will also convince stakeholders in the institution that the interest of the school is paramount to them.
In the same vein, we urge the school authorities, especially, the Governing Council not to kill the fly with a sledge hammer.
Rather than make good the threat to sack workers if they do not call off the strike within two weeks, council should continue to offer the carrot knowing that there is already light at the end of the tunel.
Also, it is condemnable for the students of the University to descend to the level of direct confrontation with their lecturers, a situation which result and consequences are better imagined than experienced.
They cannot and should not take the law into their own hands. If anything, they should be part of the solution and not the problem.
We cannot afford to stoke the fire of the crisis one way or the other, and have our children roaming the streets with the consequences of even losing their lives instead of cultivating their future in the school.
So, we call on all parties to the dispute to enter into dialogue immediately for a permanent solution to the crisis.