ASUU

For Navigating Nigeria this week, I spoke to Morenike*, a University of Lagos (UNILAG) student. She’s 26 years old and makes footwear. She shared her experience of being exhausted by the struggles of life in Nigeria. Like so many other young Nigerians, she’s heard the phrase “Education is the key” so often that it’s lost all meaning for her.

Editorial Note: Navigating Nigeria is a platform for Nigerians to passionately discuss the Nigerian experience with little interference to individual opinions. While our editorial standards emphasise the truth and we endeavour to fact-check claims and allegations, we do not bear any responsibility for allegations made about other people founded in half-truths.

“I’ve never liked school. I don’t like reading”, Morenike tells me matter-of-factly. “I finished secondary school in 2013, then wrote JAMB, which I took six times.”

I’m listening to her, partly bewildered, as she recounts her struggles getting into school. She appears to have lost count of how many entrance exams she did as she ponders whether she applied six or eight times.

“I eventually got admitted into the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech). When I finished there, I went to UNILAG in 2017.” She rationalises this decision by explaining the uncertain prospects of a person with a polytechnic degree.

“I didn’t have a business at the time. Imagine not having a business and relying on my National Diploma (ND) certificate to survive. It can’t work in Nigeria.” Her fears are valid. In December 2022, the federal government stopped polytechnics from awarding degrees and restricted them to only focusing on technical courses.

I asked her why she opted for UNILAG. “It’s because I live in Lagos. I can quickly dash home to get stuff and return to campus.” She tells me she wanted to study mass communication but didn’t have a credit in literature as was required. She’d failed to ace the course on multiple WAEC attempts. Morenike chuckles as she relays this to me. She considered political science because of her love for politics. But friends advised that a career path there would, at best, make her a political analyst.

Her options were limited because, as she admits, “I hate calculations.” This effectively ruled her out of taking a management science course. Her options were narrowed down to the faculty of social sciences, and she settled for social work. “I went for fieldwork occasionally and fell in love with the course. I’d found something I felt I could do.”

But things haven’t been rosy as she laments that she has been through various strike actions since her first year.

“Before I officially got admitted, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) went on strike. We couldn’t do our clearance. The lecturers had to step in to do that. By the second year, we had gone on another strike.

“Then, in 2020, COVID-19 happened. I was in 300 level. We stayed at home from March 2020 till January 2021. There was yet another strike in February 2022. We only resumed in October.” As a result, Morenike feels left behind compared to her peers.

“My cousin, whom I wrote JAMB with, is done with NYSC. My peers who went to private schools have all graduated. Even some that went to state schools. I think about how ASUU can wake up on a whim to embark on an indefinite strike.”

Morenike is upset by her situation and explains that lecturers often vent their frustrations on students.

“Last semester, we wrote a test in the evening. The lecturer, a lady, just kept screaming at us and told us she’d pour her annoyance on us for not receiving salaries for seven months. How’s that our fault or business in any way? We’re also affected as well. We can’t get jobs.”

“Being at the same level for almost three years has traumatised me. I got a job offer that paid ₦250k per month, which was later rescinded because I was a student. I cried for days. Employers don’t want to take risks on people who might disrupt their goals due to ASUU’s unpredictability. Some place age restrictions on job openings. At 26 now, my options are getting limited”.

A momentary pause follows before she continues her narration. Morenike isn’t alone. Many young Nigerians are caught in limbo because, on the one hand, they want to start making money quickly in an economy where the unemployment rate is projected to soar to a historic high of 41 per cent. And yet, they can’t commit to work fully and abandon schooling. A university degree still serves as a fallback for all the deserved flack that the Nigerian educational system gets.

“The zeal to read is no more there”, Morenike says with a hint of sadness. “I entered the university at 20, I’m 26 now. I don’t like attending school anymore, but I must try. When we resumed after the last strike, which was depressing, we faced numerous tests and exams. The lecturers didn’t care about our readiness for them. When ASUU and the FG go to war, we’re the ones who suffer while they go scot-free. How’s it my fault I’m not finished with school at 26?”

There’s an air of resignation as Morenike brings her story to a close. She has a few regrets. She tells me about her secondary school group chat on Whatsapp, where she frequently sees news of her friends either going for their master’s degrees or graduating. “I see them and feel envious, asking God why I’m still here struggling to earn a BSc.”

Would she do things differently if she could afford tuition at a private university?

“I wouldn’t go to a private university even if I had the money because I’m not that smart”. Morenike feels she needs to clarify her statement. “Not that I’m not smart I’m sure if I read, I’d pass. But the truth is, I don’t like reading. Reading depresses me, I’m never happy reading a book. I just want to do my business.

“For me, school is plan Z for if all else fails — which I doubt. I won’t say school is a scam because it’s through school I’ve met people I sell my products to. School has helped my business, and I’ve been able to build a network.”

Regarding her education, the journey ahead remains unclear, and Morenike can’t say when she’ll graduate. Still, she remains grateful for her business which helps her get by. For a country designed to stifle the dreams of young people, she’ll take what little wins she can get.

*Name changed to protect their identity

Stephen Agwaibor

May 6, 2023

Citizen, Navigating Nigeria

ASUU, Navigating Nigeria
For Navigating Nigeria this week, Citizen spoke to Nanretdeng, a Nigerian student who had to leave schooling in Nigeria for the Benin Republic after a lengthy ASUU strike. Her story shows that leaving Nigeria doesn’t always insulate you from trouble, as it can find its way back to you. Here’s the sad experience she and her colleagues are currently facing at the hands of a dubious man named Shehu. If this were a movie, it would be titled “The Good, The Bad, and the Shehu.”

Editorial Note: Navigating Nigeria is a platform for Nigerians to passionately discuss the Nigerian experience with little interference to individual opinions. While our editorial standards emphasise the truth and we endeavour to fact-check claims and allegations, we do not bear any responsibility for allegations made about other people founded in half-truths.

My name is Nanretdeng. Let me tell you my story.

I used to study at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), but a strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 2020 disrupted my studies for almost a year. I started thinking about going to school outside Nigeria. Before the strike, I had a friend who left UNIJOS to study at École Supérieure de Management (ESM) in Cotonou, Benin Republic. So I asked her how she did it, and she referred me to this guy named Shehu, who was part of the AP Usman Foundation and had links with ESM.

When she referred me to Shehu, I had no idea that the foundation offered scholarships. All I knew was that he had helped my friend process her admission to the university. I contacted him, and he asked me to visit Jos’s AP Usman office.

I met him there, which was when he showed me my options. Before issuing a form, he asked me about the course I wanted to study and other relevant information. I still wasn’t aware at this point that this was a scholarship. I wasn’t honestly looking for that. All I wanted was enlightenment on attending school in Cotonou, but then Shehu later told me that the foundation had provided half scholarships for students applying.

That must have felt like good news at the time

The tuition was ₦430k thereabouts. The foundation promised to take on some of that fee while other colleagues and I were to pay ₦‎150k each with an additional ₦‎20k bringing the total payment to ₦‎170k. So that’s what I paid to the foundation. I still have the receipts. This was in October 2020. We were 14 and were told to prepare to leave either in December 2020 or, at the latest, by January 2021.

Instead, we went in February of 2021 since they kept postponing our resumption date. On the day we were to leave, a few of us were at the AP Usman office in Jos. We all took off from there and arrived in Cotonou.

When we got to Cotonou, we started school activities. Things were going okay until it was time for exams, and we needed clearance. We realised that we hadn’t received receipts from the school confirming that our tuition was paid. Shehu had only remitted about 60 per cent of the payments to the school, even though we thought it was all taken care of. I ended up tweeting about it to draw attention to our situation, and we found out that it was the school that offered the scholarship. Crazy, right?

[ESM Benin / Facebook]

Crazy

It came as a surprise to us all. We tried reaching out to him, but a back-and-forth amounted to nothing. The school was generous and let us write the exams and participate in other activities. They were aware that we had made payments to the foundation. We finished our first year with nothing productive coming out of the talks with Shehu.

Before the commencement of our second year, Shehu still reached out to people asking them to make payments. This was after he hadn’t remitted first-year tuition fees.

At the time, I’d resolved to make all payments directly to the school going forward. When the second year began, Shehu referred other students using the foundation as cover to pay tuition fees to ESM through him without remitting our outstanding payments.

That’s audacious

That went on for a while. At one point, the school admin that had been in touch with Shehu told us that Shehu had stopped responding to his messages and calls. Shehu had gone MIA. The second year rolled by with these issues unresolved.

In our third year, we agreed that no one would make any payments to Shehu or the AP Usman Foundation but to the school directly. At this time, I was the university’s president of the Plateau Students Union. I was picked for this because I was bilingual, and the Benin Republic is a francophone country. It helped, too, that I studied foreign languages at UNIJOS.

After our joint resolution, students from the union began making tuition payments to another bank account I own — different from my primary one. I was then remitting payments to the school from my end. The amount I paid to the school was around thrice what Shehu sent. Despite this, we still have some ground to cover, which explains why I put up that Twitter thread. There are some people among us who Shehu believed were only making a one-time payment. These people are stranded with no hope of getting financial support from home.

We need all the help we can get because we’re in the last lap. It’s a three-year degree. The school has been gracious enough up until now, but that can no longer last. I’m grateful that my story is getting enough traction. Hopefully, it translates to financial help to offset our outstanding bills.

Sounds like this Shehu guy is fraudulent. What has the school done about it?

The school has done their best. It has tried to maintain contact with Shehu. But the school is in Benin Republic while Shehu is in Jos. By the time Shehu decided to stop taking calls, there was nothing anyone from ESM could have done about it. When I returned to Jos, I tried to swing by the office only to find out it was no longer there. It’s not a lack of effort on the part of the school per se. I know the school’s various efforts to get Shehu to remit our fees. They’ve not been successful.

How do you hope this ends? Do you want to see Shehu apprehended, or are you content with settling the outstanding fees?

My priority as the student representative isn’t Shehu getting apprehended. I mean, that would be nice, but what I’m hoping for is that we offset all our debts. The means to that end don’t matter to me. Whether through crowdfunding, a donation, or a charity that notices us and decides to help, it doesn’t matter to me now. If Shehu gets caught and is made to pay, that would be the icing on the cake. But to be honest with you, I’ve taken my mind off of Shehu.

Stephen Agwaibor

April 29, 2023

Citizen, Navigating Nigeria

ASUU, Benin Republic, Navigating Nigeria, Scam, tuition
On December 11, 2022, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, were guests at a town hall hosted by Channels TV. The two-hour townhall focused on the PDP’s plans for Nigerians if the party is allowed to return to Aso Rock Villa.

What did Atiku say?

In his opening remarks, Atiku said Nigeria is going through its worst existential challenge since the civil war, describing the country as disunited due to security and economic issues.

The candidate believes his experience makes him uniquely qualified for the position of president more than the other candidates. Don’t forget this is his sixth attempt trying to become Nigeria’s president.

On IPOB

Atiku believes the central issue regarding the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is the realisation of Biafra. He noted that the options for that to happen are either another civil war or negotiations, and indicated his preference for the latter. Atiku also believes more autonomy for subregions will quell agitations.

On ASUU

On the recurrent strikes by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Atiku says he’ll clear all their backlogs. A very bold promise.

“I’m going to increase the funding level (of education) as against what’s currently obtained. There’s no doubt about that because I’m a firm and committed believer in education.

“I’ve undertaken to say, whatever backlog — we’re going to clear all the backlogs and make sure that you go back to classes and students go back to school.”

On insecurity

Atiku has plans to emulate the UAE to tackle insecurity in Nigeria. He’d know a lot about that seeing as Dubai is his second home.

“The security architecture I admire is the UAE security architecture and it’s primarily based on monitoring. You don’t see policemen in uniform in UAE, you don’t see soldiers but virtually everybody is being monitored on a daily basis and particularly if you are a visitor, from the moment you step into the country or go out, anywhere you’re going, you’re being watched and that’s the deployment of technology as far as security is concerned.

“That’s to say we’re aiming for the ultimate, but we have to deal with our current security structure. How we reform it to ensure we give our people a more secure environment to undertake their own legitimate businesses wherever they may be, whether in the rural areas, semi-urban and so on.”

On Wike’s unending beef

Atiku said he tried on his part to square things with Nyesom Wike who he defeated at the PDP primaries to clinch the presidential ticket.

“I’ve met Wike two times in Port Harcourt, two times in Abuja, one time in London, personally. It’s not on my part; it’s on the other side. I’m waiting for him.”

Dear Wike, we’re all waiting for your reply.

On privatisation

Atiku has long been a champion of privatisation which has earned him equal measure of praise from his supporters and criticism from those who say he wants to sell state assets to his friends.

He responded to a question on why he’s fixated on selling public assets.

“I’m not fixated but I think that’s best for the country. I mean, let’s be honest with ourselves, we have four refineries and they’ve ceased functioning; I don’t know for how many years now and every year we budget money for overhauling the refineries that don’t work. Please, let’s give it to the private sector.

“In every great nation in this world, you find out that it’s the private sector that’s driving the economy — they provide the jobs, they provide the prosperity, and they do everything. Why should we be different? So, I’m not fixated.”

On Deborah Samuel

Atiku also addressed the controversy surrounding the death of Deborah Samuel, a 19-year old Christian killed by a mob of her classmates in Sokoto over allegations of blasphemy. Atiku’s Twitter account had posted a statement condemning her death, before later deleting it.

When asked why he deleted the tweet, the candidate said it was posted without his approval. But he made it clear that he later condemned the murder.

Why did you delete your tweet about Deborah's murder?

Atiku Abubakar gives his answer below: #CTVTweets #ThePeoplesTownHall #NigeriaDecides2023 pic.twitter.com/Bi9IYTmwgg
— Channels Television (@channelstv) December 11, 2022

Not everyone’s buying his answer though.

Stephen Agwaibor

December 12, 2022

Citizen

ASUU, Atiku, IPOB, Wike
It’s not a secret that Nigeria is a telenovela series, with twists, mysteries and turns at almost every point. Unfortunately, these plot twists never bring Nigerians the happy endings we want and at this point we’re tired of our character development arc.

On October 26, 2022, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced its plans to redesign the naira to combat counterfeiting and manage inflation. Nigerians weren’t too pleased by the news and even the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, didn’t like it. But at least we had hopes that maybe the makeover would be impressive.

Okay, what happened next?

When President Buhari unveiled the new notes on November 23, 2022, let’s just say the designs looked… interesting.

Is it just us or do they look like someone’s tie and dye project?

What did Nigerians say?

Nigerians were more disappointed than outraged, as these new notes looked like someone ran them through Snapchat filters.

During an interview on Channels Television, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, claimed the CBN spent about ₦218 billion on the new designs.

While we can’t say how accurate Sowore’s figures are, we know producing these new banknotes must be expensive. But could this money have been spent better? Let’s look at some alternatives.

ASUU

There’s a saying amongst federal university students that, “Every generation experiences an ASUU strike.” It’s funny until you wake up one day and realise you’ve been in 100 level for two years. Just this year alone, federal universities were on strike for eight months. If some of the redesign fund was injected into the education sector, we’d have a better system.

Flood victims

Climate change is ruining the environment, and Nigeria is already feeling the brunt of it. This year, we faced one of the worst flooding disasters in our history, with over 600 deaths and 1.3 million people displaced. Unfortunately, the federal government’s response to this has been underwhelming. The victims would have appreciated some of the money the government used to redesign the banknotes.

Fix bad roads

“I’m going to repair bad roads,” has become a mantra for politicians. But once they get into power, they wash their hands off their campaign promises and pick them up four years later for another campaign.

We can’t say we’re shocked at the government’s decisions so far. We can only hope that with the coming 2023 elections, we’ll vote for people who can address the challenges Nigerians really care about.

Tolu Omotesho

November 24, 2022

Citizen

ASUU, Buhari, Flood Victims, Fund, naira, Naira redesign, Nigeria, Nigerians, Politicians
Nigerian students across the country have received a fresh wave of disappointment from their lecturers, as the Federal Government (FG) bluntly refused to pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) their full salaries.

Why is FG holding lecturers’ salaries?

Even though the government may be making a diss move towards ASUU, their actions are legally right.

According to the Trade Act Union, Vol.15 CAP T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, federal workers that go on industrial action (or strike) do not deserve to be paid for the months they were away from work.

While the Federal Government may claim that its decision in paying the workers half of their salaries is legally right, it totally defeats the purpose of ASUU striking for eight months, which was to collect their wages in full.

How’s ASUU taking this?

After ASUU lecturers checked their phones and saw that their ‘credit alerts’ weren’t complete, they decided not to relent, as they began a new wave of protests.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter of the ASUU kicked off with a peaceful protest on November 15, urging the government and stakeholders to reverse the payments before another crisis erupts in the nation’s universities.

The Bayero University in Kano, while not protesting, has decided to postpone exams previously slated from November 17 for an indefinite period.

But since Ngige is not willing to hear word, we may have to brace ourselves for another nationwide strike from ASUU.

How are students taking the news?

The reactions from Nigerian students across social media have gathered some mixed reactions, as some students are tired of the constant ASUU-FG back and forth, while others are hoping the strike occurs due to their lack of preparation for exams.

ASUU should pity we students please, we've been at home for additional three years already. The government is not suffering this in any way, we are. Imagine going home after leaving barely two weeks ago, that's so depressing#ASUUstrike
— Belita Gabriel (@belita_gabriel) November 4, 2022

Asuu please strike again
Universities are making student suffer
My school from not paying for exam permit to paying of exam permit 🥺🥺🥺
Faculty fee and department fee
All have increased double double
Fgs 😩😩😩
— bliss klafford (@blissklafford01) November 14, 2022

Some have also decided to fight the good fight with their lecturers. Some UNILAG students also decided to join the protests.

Right now, the biggest question for Nigerians is, will ASUU still go on strike? Well, let’s wait and see.

Chiamaka Dike

November 17, 2022

Citizen

ASUU, ASUU strike, Nigeria, Nigerians
The 2022 strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is turning out to be one of the longest in Nigeria’s history. And even though this video marked a hilarious commencement of the strike in February, the situation is hardly as funny anymore:

WATCH: Lagos ASUU members sing solidarity songs as strike looms pic.twitter.com/eF4pDsJSZ6
— TheCable (@thecableng) February 8, 2022

When ASUU went on strike, the union said it was sick of the government’s attitude. And perhaps the worst thing about ASUU strikes is that nothing is ever really new. Many of the issues in contention are as old as Methuselah.

ASUU is fighting for earned academic allowances, university funding, autonomy, and control over salary structure and payment.

Of course, the biggest casualty of this unending organ-measuring contest between two agbayas is the students who desperately need education. And they’ve been crying for both sides to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign.

What’s the status of the strike?

Even though ASUU has grabbed the headlines for strikes, it’s not the only school union on strike. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and other Associated Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have also embarked on strikes along the way with their own lists of demands.

When providing a status report on the government’s dealings with the unions on April 18th, 2022, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said ASUU remains the black sheep of the family.

According to the minister, all the other unions are set to call off their strikes but ASUU remains deep in its main character energy bag.

And why exactly is ASUU still holding out in the negotiations? If the minister’s words are to be believed, it’s because the government has refused to pay them for the six months they’ve been on leave.

Compensation war

A journalist asked the minister what suffering students should look forward to as compensation in the middle of all the strikes. After all, it’s the students that sit by the sidelines and wait forever for the government and unions to tire each other out.

But the minister was quick to dismiss the notion of the government owing the students compensation. He promptly passed that hot coal of responsibility to ASUU instead.

What are students losing to ASUU strikes?

When ASUU strikes, the greatest loss for Nigerian students is time.

If a student started university in January 2022, they’ve now lost six months of their first year to sitting at home. This already extends the number of years they’ll have to spend pursuing a university degree.

And if such a student paid a landlord rent in January, they’ve been denied the opportunity to use that service for six months and will have to renew the rent when it expires.

Affected students also have to deal with low-level twisted banter like this:

This is what finishing four years in four calendar years in a Nigerian University looks like. You should be here too pic.twitter.com/zcRp6yAY9s
— Bowen University (@bowenuniversity) August 11, 2022

Nigerian students take a lot of hits with every new strike. So it’s not ridiculous that the government and ASUU should consider compensating them.

The real claim to compensation

The claim to compensation isn’t even a new concept. After eight months of strike in 2020, the Law Students’ Association of Nigeria sued ASUU to return to work. They also asked the court to order ASUU to pay ₦10 billion to students as compensation for infringing on their rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

They argued that the strike caused students psychological and emotional torture as it wasted their valuable time.

That lawsuit never went anywhere, but the argument was as true in 2020 as it is in 2022. If ASUU thinks it needs its members compensated for the six months they’ve not worked, then students have a big claim for compensation. It doesn’t even matter if that compensation is coming from ASUU or the government. So, it may be time to resurrect that lawsuit.

Generations of students have been forced out of classrooms by ASUU and the federal government for more than four years combined since 1999. That’s enough time to get a full degree. Yet, even when the 2022 strike ends, there’s nothing to show it will indeed be the end of the road for this endless conflict.

If Nigerian students will never be free of ASUU strikes, they may as well start getting something out of it. But more than the compensation, students only have one real demand:

ALSO READ: Will Nigerian Students Ever Be Free of ASUU Strike?

Samson Toromade

August 20, 2022

Citizen

ASUU, ASUU strike, Nigerian students
You cannot teach an old dog new tricks, and we all know the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is as ancient as they come.

As a university student, it feels like hell to see ASUU in the news because chances are high that it is about one thing – strike action.

The union and the Federal Government of Nigeria have embodied Tom and Jerry so much that any period of peace is never expected to last.

Like any 5-year-old could have predicted, the two are back at it again, and this video makes it super hilarious:

WATCH: Lagos ASUU members sing solidarity songs as strike looms pic.twitter.com/eF4pDsJSZ6
— TheCable (@thecableng) February 8, 2022

What fresh hell is this?

ASUU warned the government this week that its chapters in federal and state universities are ready, as always, to abandon classrooms and delay the future of Nigerian students, yet again.

Many state chapters of the union organised press conferences days ago to let Nigerians know whose shirt to hold if they decide to go on another indefinite strike.

The last time ASUU went on this kind of strike in 2020, it lasted nine months, just enough time for idle university students to produce a new generation of babies.

What exactly does ASUU want this time?

The most striking thing about ASUU’s strike actions is that nothing is ever really new about the issues.

To understand what’s causing the current crisis, we have to go back to 13 years ago when ‘breakfast’ was still about food.

In 2009, the government signed an agreement with ASUU that centred on salary structure and payment, earned academic allowances, university funding, autonomy, and academic freedom.

Remember that 2020 strike? ASUU said it was because the government failed to fully implement the agreement.

And even though they both settled the issue that year, ASUU is now threatening to go on strike over the same thing.

This same 2009 deal had caused major issues between both parties and forced repeated agreements in 2013, 2017, and 2019.

It’s a nightmare that repeats itself every few market days [Dreamstime]

What is the government saying now?

In his response to ASUU’s threats, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, basically said:

The former Anambra state governor accused the union of weaponising sentiments against the government because they have been paid some of their earned academic allowances.

He also told ASUU members to stop facing him and redirect their tears to their actual employer – the Federal Ministry of Education.

His own role, he said, is to step in the middle of the fight when ASUU and the Ministry of Education cannot play nice with each other.

Where is this going?

The Ministry of Education has not directly addressed ASUU’s latest threats, but its Permanent Secretary, Sonny Echono, said in December 2021 that the government signed most of the past agreements under duress.

It is unclear where this will fall, but ASUU will likely declare an indefinite strike if the Federal Government does not blink on this week’s threats.

ASUU and the government’s game of cat and mouse is so old now that even if they resolve this crisis without a strike, they will be back to doing this same dance at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Something clearly needs to change or we’ll keep travelling back to 2009.

Samson Toromade

February 12, 2022

Citizen

ASUU, ASUU strike
A Week In The Life” is a weekly Zikoko series that explores the working-class struggles of Nigerians. It captures the very spirit of what it means to hustle in Nigeria and puts you in the shoes of the subject for a week.

The subject of today’s “A Week In The Life” is a club hostess and waitress. Club hostesses help clients with reservations and carry out bottles with sparklers when people buy expensive drinks. Our subject talks about the stereotype associated with her job, balancing school and work, and some of the most expensive drinks she has served.

FRIDAY:

I feel lucky that I have a job because I can’t imagine how I’d cope without one. A little back story: I’m currently living in Akure because of school and outside of classes, I have nothing to do. A typical day for me usually involves class, hostel, class, hostel, rinse and repeat.

With a job in the mix, I’m happy there’s finally some variety: class, hostel, work, rinse and repeat. Keeping a job as a student requires constant moving around of my schedule. Some days, I go from work to class. On other days, it’s from class to work.

Today, I’m going from the lab to work. School ends at 4 p.m., and I have to prepare for work at 6 p.m. The club officially opens at 9:30 p.m. but resumption time is 6 p.m.

I work as a hostess in a club and I like to call it waitressing pro-max — if such a name exists.

My job is to go to work, be on my best behaviour, look beautiful, put on a smile and welcome customers. It’s also my job to show them to their table and make them comfortable. On nights where we have a full house, I also substitute as a waitress and help serve drinks.

The part of my job I love the most is seeing people buy expensive drinks, hey Jesus! Dorime things. When I’m hyping the person popping drinks by dancing and carrying lights, I’m constantly reminding myself that if the drink falls, I’m finished. Some of these drinks cost more than my annual salary. I haven’t gotten used to seeing people casually spend millions of naira on alcohol in one night.

But, I try not to visibly show my shock because the show must go on.

School is currently in session, so my work schedule has changed from every day to only Friday to Sunday. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Although, I still find myself working during the week because work is fun and my co-workers feel like family.

SATURDAY:

Midnight of Friday/Saturday morning:

I resumed work at 6 p.m. yesterday. I barely made it to work on time because I overslept when I got to the hostel. It took the grace of God for me to jump up when I did and I rushed to work.

The first thing I did at work was to eat the cereal I packed. Next, I started making reservations for guests coming later at night when we fully opened. At some point, I helped the barman take inventory and plan the drinks for the night. When I was tired, I went to a restaurant in the same building as the club to chill.

At 9 p.m., I went to change. I was torn between a red dress with a thigh slit and a plain black round neck shirt. I almost chose the red dress, but I remembered that the last time I wore it, a man pointed at my nipple, another slapped my butt and one couldn’t stop staring at my breasts — even though they aren’t that big. And so, the plain black round neck won.

3 a.m.

I’ve been by the door welcoming guests all night. In that time, I and the other hostesses have danced up to five times for people popping drinks. I’ve also worn a mask to hide my face during those five times because I’m shy.

In this same night, I’ve also gotten offers from people who say they want to fuck me. One even offered to triple my monthly salary if I go home with him. Wonders shall never end.

4:00 a.m.

The alcohol has finally kicked in. The DJ’s playlist is fire. People have stopped coming in and now I’m catching my own fun.

5:00 a.m.

I’m not doing again. I’m tired. These people should come and be going home.

6:00 a.m.

God. These people are still here dancing and partying. Don’t they want us to go home? Are they not tired? I’m tired.

I miss my bed.

7:00 a.m.

Finally, the last customer just left. Thank you, Jesus!

Noon

Nobody can separate me from this bed. Not food, not water, not even phone calls. I want to sleep till tomorrow if I can.

5 p.m.

I can’t believe I have to get up for work. This adulthood is very somehow because someone can’t even relax. Just work every day until you die.

SUNDAY:

Midnight of Saturday/Sunday morning

Tonight has been uneventful. People are coming in much slower than usual and the energy on the dance floor is off. With the kind of evening I had when I got to work, I’m glad things are slow now.

For the longest time, I’ve suspected that people view so-called “club girls” differently. However, today’s incident proved me right.

The owner of the club I work in owns a hotel within the building our office is in, and I chill at the hotel’s bar and restaurant all the time. Yesterday, [male] friends from my school came to lodge in our hotel. That’s how I went to say hi to them because these are friends I had before starting this job.

As I was leaving their room to start work, I heard someone say, “she has gone to do the job they hired her for. The job of fucking customers.”

My heart dropped, my palms and face were covered in sweat, and I was speechless.

It’s somehow when people just stereotype you. Club girl doesn’t mean she fucks around. Club girl doesn’t mean she’s for sale or wants your money. Club girl doesn’t mean she’s not a person; she’s a human being too.

Last last this work is not for everyone because if you don’t have sense they’ll run you streets.

3 a.m.

The last customer just left, so we’re done for the day. However, according to our contract, we can’t leave until 6:00 a.m. Everyone is either sleeping or about to sleep. I can’t because my body is already used to sleeping during the day.

To pass time, I try to match drinks to their prices. We have:

— Hennessy Paradis. We sell for ₦1M and people buy it like pure water.

— Azul costs ₦400k and is decent.

— Ace of Spades is ₦450k.

— Hennessy xo is ₦350k. Same price as Remy XO. Dom Perignon is around ₦300 – ₦350k too.

— Don Julio is ₦400k.

— Then we have the Moet family which costs ₦65k. This is in the same category as Hennessy VSOP.

— We sell Glenfiddich between ₦65 – ₦85k too.

— Our Ciroc goes for ₦45,000

There’s a drink for everybody.

6:00 a.m.

Finally, my watch has ended. I’m going home to sleep all day. I’m grateful that my colleagues told me to go home while they stayed back to balance the account and clean up.

MONDAY:

6:00 a.m.

The only thing powering me this morning is energy drinks. Last night was so busy that you’ll never have imagined that the next day was Monday. Customers were everywhere, so I barely had time to rest. To make things worse, my first class starts at 8:00 a.m. today and attendance is compulsory.

I have to do everything in my power to not touch my bed. Anything that makes me lie down small, that’s the end. I’m gone. I just need to manage till 2 p.m. when school ends for today. I don’t know how I’ll survive the lectures, but the first step is getting to school in one piece.

It’ll soon be a year since I started doing this job. It’s funny how this job started as a way to keep busy and earn passive income after the lockdown was eased, and school was still closed. Now, it’s something I’ve come to enjoy. Beyond that, I’m really grateful I have a job I enjoy that occupies my time.

As a student, there’s no greater feeling than knowing I have my own money. I don’t depend on anyone for anything: I see something, I like it, and I save for it. Apart from the occasional harassment, this is a job I enjoy doing.

I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I had nothing to do.

Check back every Tuesday by 9 am for more “A Week In The Life ” goodness, and if you would like to be featured or you know anyone who fits the profile, fill this form.

Hassan Yahaya

August 17, 2021

Hustle

ASUU, club, hostess, hustle, Nigeria, pandemic, party, student
If you attend a Nigerian federal university it means that you’ve been out of school for almost a year, and there are two major players responsible for that: ASUU and COVID. You’ve probably gone through a shit ton of emotions in the past year about school so we put this together because we know you can relate to these 12 memes.

1. When ASUU first called a two-week warning strike

Two whole weeks away from the madness that is school? Why not? Nothing could be better.

2. Then the government imposed the lockdown

“Come and join me sing hallelujah! No school, no assignment, no foolish lecturers. Please let me rest.”

3. When you realized you’ve been at home for six months

Wait o…This thing don dey long.

4. And there’s still COVID outside

You start thinking “Wait, am I at home because of COVID or because of the strike? But Babcock people have gone to school now.” Oluwa wetin dey happen.

5. When you see your juniors in private universities graduating

“It’s not you people’s fault. At least they let me use phone in my own school.”

6. So you decide to start looking for a job…

“Please employ me. I will do anything as long as you feed me.”

7. When you heard that ASUU and the federal government were having meetings

Imagine praying for school to resume. School of all things o.

8. And then they “suspended” the strike

TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL.

9. So you started preparing for school again

You and your friends probably started making plans already. You renewed your apartment’s rent, you looked at your course forms and time tables again. Let’s go!

10. But ASUU said there’s still COVID so you still can’t go to school

It went from “You’re resuming on January 18” to “Let’s see what the next few months hold”

11. This is you calculating when you’ll graduate

“So if they call off the strike now, when will we resume? How many semesters left? Worst case, by 2023 I should be done in Jesus name. “

12. When you try to remember your matric number

150……15070…. 150709. Omo, fuck it.

If you’re into memes, check out this mind-blowing Nigerian meme site we created. Click Here

David Odunlami

January 12, 2021

Inside Life

ASUU
Every grown Nigerian knows about ASUU and their hard-earned reputation. No judgments here; everybody must be known for something. At this point, ASUU or the news of any of their strikes shouldn’t really be news, but because these things affect hundreds of thousands of students, we can’t get that wish.

So what is it this time?

Err, how do we say it? As you may have guessed, it’s about money again. When is it never? So, the Federal Government would like ASUU to come aboard the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to receive their salaries from the government.

Easy-Peasy, right? Apparently not!

ASUU has kicked against the directive. They have their reasons, though. During a meeting with the Senate on Monday, ASUU National President, Mr Biodun Ogunyemi listed the following as some of the reasons they think the payment system is a “scam.”
- The IPPIS lacks constitutional backing; neither is it supported by any Act of the National Assembly.
- The system does not capture the remuneration of staff on sabbatical, external examiners, external assessors, and Earned Academic Allowances. It does not address the movement of staff as in the case of visiting, adjunct, part-time, consultancy service, which academics offer across universities in Nigeria.
- The system may affect some of the processes involved in promotion exercises, especially the payment of arrears.
- The payment system will also inhibit universities from employing staff on short notice because if the system is activated, such staff may not be paid until cleared by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
- He may or may not have also said that the IPPIS is a threat to national security.
In summary, their arguments revolve around the fact that the payment system the Federal Government is bent on introducing will make it a pain to get paid for their work. But can’t they sit with the Federal Government and talk like grown-ups? That seems to be a way that works, isn’t it? I don’t know if that has happened or if it will happen, but at the moment, the FG is going through with the October 31 deadline, and ASUU is threatening to go on strike the moment that happens.

Of course, Nigerians have reacted to this on Twitter, and no one seems to understand ASUU’s concerns and no one is standing with them.

President Buhari is paid from IPPIS, as are judges. IPPIS hasn’t fixed their retirement ages at 60 years. The military is on IPPIS. They have allowances and foreign duty. But let’s continue to be held hostage by ASUU and to prioritise political interest over National interest.🙄
— Dr Joe Abah, OON (@DrJoeAbah) October 28, 2019

Dear ASUU, good morning. I have just spent some time looking through the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1993 and the amendments thereto in 2003 and 2012. Yes you have autonomy in administration but I have not seen where that includes salary scaling & payment & pensions
— Madam President (rtd) Iyabo Arinola Ifeoma Awokoya (@iyaboawokoya) October 29, 2019

Condemn #SexForGrades, they wont!

Condemn student's exploitation, they won't

Condemn lecturers' truancy, they won't…

But whenever its a financial issue, they'd threaten with strike!

Have ASUU ever gone on strike for any purpose other than money?🤷🏾‍♂️

I'm just asking!🤷🏾‍♂️🚶🏽 pic.twitter.com/QCVEByOiZu
— Men'S_OutfiTs (@unique_finger) October 29, 2019

ASUU's rejection of IPPIS should be seen by every Nigerian as the selfishness of a cuddled group acting to protect their own interests to the detriment of everyone else.
Autonomy of Universities and national security excuses are all bullshit.
— Amara Nwankpa (@Nwankpa_A) October 29, 2019

Woah! Looks like ASUU is on their own with this one.
Toheeb Lanlehin

October 29, 2019

General

ASUU, ASUU strike, federal government, students
On February 8th,2019 the Academic Staff Union of Universities announced their decision to suspend their strike after reaching an agreement with the Federal government. Students across the country came to a solemn realisation – school was going to resume soon. On the plus side, the final year brethren get to graduate this year. On the other hand, the battle with our archaic educational system for a degree continues.

Hope you’ve enjoyed waking up by 11 AM and eating whenever you like because it’s back to crappy hostels, terrible power supply, hot weather, boring lectures, mandatory pseudo-fasting, and “this-school-is-a-scam” rants.

Nationwide, academic activities are set to resume and we thought it would be nice to remind you of a few things.

Get Ready To Lose All The Weight

You’ve been at home for more than 3 months so it’s only natural that you’ve put on some extra weight. If you haven’t, contact your village people immediately and beg.

Things are about to change though, you’re all going back to your respective war camps and torture facilities. That means that some bald middle aged man with his notes from the 80s is about to bore and stress you till you can play do re mi with your rib cage.

Do You Still Remember Your Matric Number?

If, like me, you gave up on school and forgot your matric number during the strike, please line up according to your height. We’re buying zobo to wash away our sorrows make we dey alright.

PS – Ask your class rep, he’s been signing your attendance for you so he knows.

Time To Become A Bread And Beans Warrior Again

If you’ve grown accustomed to Basmati rice and Chicken fillet with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice to wash it down, I’m already crying for you. Brethren, forget the comfort you have known and return to your bread and agoyin ways as quickly as possible.

Hope You’ve Been Happy For The Entire Year

Fun fact about most universities – as you walk (or drive if you’re now a big somebody) through the gates, you’re leaving your joy and happiness outside, you’ll pick it up when you exit the premises.

Las las, may the joy of the Lord be with you.

Naga

February 20, 2019

Campus

ASUU, Nigerian students, uni students
It’s a few days to the end of my internship, and I’ve been thinking about the coming weeks. My editor asked me a bunch of questions about my birthday, I found it weird and suspicious.

A bunch of conversations later, I ended up here.

1999

The 6 billionth human was born in 1999, and while I was also born that year, that human wasn’t me.

You know what else makes 1999 an important year? The first ASUU strike and the switch to the democratic government we’re ‘enjoying’ now.

Out with the military and in with the thunder. I wonder what those 5 months were like for students.

2001

I was a chubby baby, walking around the house causing mischief. I don’t know if my mum was tired of me draining milk from her body 49 times a day, but I ended up in Kindergarten.

While I was just starting school, University students were about to take another L for 3 months.

49 lecturers were sacked from the University of Ilorin and ASUU wasn’t having it. OBJ wasn’t ready to deal with their feelings, so he called them ~~lazy Nigerian youth~~ ‘lazy and ungrateful’.

2002

The baby boy was getting bigger and moving up the ladder. I like to imagine KG 2 was my boss year in Kindergarten.

I probably sat in the middle of the class, beside a pretty girl.

While I was enjoying my 3rd Christmas, ASUU was serving thunder again but not for very long.

The previous agreement had not been implemented and ASUU went on a 2-week long strike.

2003

Did anyone else have a long WWE wrestling phase? I know I did and it started when I was 4.

I’d come back home, speedily lose my uniform and beg my brother to play wrestling with me.

I always tried to do Kurt Angles ankle lock. Keyword being “tried”. ASUU too was experiencing trial and failure, the agreements still weren’t implemented.

While I was falling in love, ASUU embarked on the longest strike till date, a full 6 months.

2005

Four words – Lord of The Rings. The best movie of this century, argue with your pastor or priest. 6 years old and going outside every day.

After watching “Fellowship of The Ring”, I became Legolas with the bow.

The downside is that I may have fired it at my sister and got a major ass whooping that evening. University students were about to feel some heat too, as ASUU was getting ready to interrupt academic once again. 2 weeks later things were back to normal and I was scheming how to make another bow.

2006

The first time I ever heard the word ASUU was in 2006. My big brother was in his first year and I had outgrown wrestling.

To be honest I didn’t have a partner anymore so I lost interest. He came home one day, ASUU had issued a warning strike and it was safer being at home.

He was back to school a week later though.

2007

Being the only child at home when I was 8 was beyond boring. My sister was in year 1 now, she had left me too.

I had my mom and dad every day, but making the lives of your elder siblings a bit more stressful has a unique taste.

I was busy playing outside, as usual, some parts of me missing them, some parts wondering if I should make a new bow and risk my mom knocking my teeth out, and they strolled into the compound.

Surprise surprise, Asuu had done it again. But I didn’t care really, it was the best 3 months of 2007.

2008

Junior secondary was when the real survival course took place. Avoiding seniors, trying to get food during break time and having my first real encounter with the sorcery called Math.

Normally I’d cry to my brother or sister and get them to show me a few tricks, but they weren’t around.

The one time I needed Asuu and they betrayed me.

You can imagine my delight when I overheard a conversation between my mom and my brother, mentions of a strike and ASUU. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the chance to come home.

I failed Math that term. ASUU went on strike for a week over demands for an improved payment scheme and the 49 “lazy” lecturers from the University of Ilorin.

2009

I hit 10 in 2009. I was still a short yellow chubby-faced boy, taking more note of the world but still having adventures outside.

The term had ended earlier than usual and the fun was about to begin. I was getting ready to “shoot” some arrows when 2 familiar figures strolled through the gate.

It had happened again, but this time it wasn’t going to be as much fun. My siblings wanted to graduate, not stay at home and count trees.

Those were 4 long months but in October, my siblings were back to chasing the GPA.

2010

It was bye-bye and see you later a few days to my siblings a few days after my 11th birthday. Once again I was Lord of the house and I would run around naked, stamping my authority with my royal buttcheeks. It was way more fun than it sounds.

I was done with another term and happy the holidays were here but I didn’t expect to see my brother and sister for another few weeks. I stepped into the house and there they were. I knew the routine by now. On the bright side, my Math scores went higher in the following term.

It’s safe to say I stunted on everyone in my class but it didn’t matter much, an extra year had been added to my sibling’s graduation date as the strike lasted for over 5 months.

2011

Moving to a new state is a life-changing experience. I didn’t know what to expect. But 5 months in Lagos gave me a growth spurt and puberty. It wasn’t bad so far.

My siblings were schooling in another state so it was weird to see them come home early December. No one needed to tell me ASUU was pon the strike again.

It didn’t last very long and some days after my 13th birthday, they were off to school again. It was the year my brother graduated.

2013

When you’re in SS2/SS3 your biggest concerns are WAEC and end of term parties. Thanks to having siblings I was also thinking about ASUU and the coming battles. Luckily my brother had already graduated and my sister was months away from leaving school too.

She dodged the bullet by a few weeks and finished her exams just as ASUU went on strike for 5 months.

On the flip side, it made her NYSC service a full calendar year, with all the many public holidays for the good of her sanity.

2017

At 18 both my siblings were long done with school, it was just me now. After the riot that happened in my school during my first year, I was praying nothing would try to mess with my graduation date.

I should have used that time and energy to grow my Instagram honestly.

A few weeks into the second semester of year 2- like a thief in the night – ASUU came and did their magic. I started calculating how these people were about to mess with my graduation date but my God is bigger.

They called off the strike in September and it was back to hustling for the GPA.

2019

Now I’m in my final year, months away from escaping this psychological torture for a certificate I’m not sure will mean much and they have come again. When we’re talking about village people being online, it’s ASUU.

At this point, I don’t know how to feel about the strike anymore, but I’d still like to graduate this 2019. On one hand, I almost enjoy not being in school, being able to write, have a job and focus on my side hustle.

On the other hand, the sooner I leave this nightmare, the better. It looks like the strike will be called off soon, or it could last another 5 months as it did in January 1999.

Things are never as they seem in Nigeria.

One thing’s for sure now, I just want to be happier with a healthy bank account.

Naga

January 9, 2019

Campus

ASUU, campus, Nigeria 2019
On November 5, 2018, while some unlucky student was fighting for the last seat in the Keke so he could get to school early, the Academic Staff Union of Universities began an indefinite strike.

The reason? Well, according to ASUU, the Federal Government has been doing them wayo for a minute.

The men in Abuja have refused to approve better salaries or pay agreed allowances for lecturers in public universities.

Lowkey, this strike is just a rebirth of one that supposedly ended in September 2017.

When he was calling the lecturers to arms, The National President of the Union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said something along the lines that the lecturers will not resume until “government fully implements all outstanding issues as contained in the MOA of 2017, and concludes the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements.”

So, what is this MOA?

It’s simply a memorandum–an agreement with terms that the FG agreed to fulfil in the coming future.

Apparently, a day in real life is equivalent to 10 years in Aso Rock.

Think of the Memorandum as a final attempt to ensure some decorum, like when the Barbers Association agrees on prices for haircuts and makes all the barbers paste it on their mirrors. Why would that be necessary, you ask?

Well, the FG and ASUU have been at it for quite a while. In the last 19 years, ASUU has had to pull out the lecturers for a cumulative 40 months.

40 months equals three years and four months. That’s six months less than a presidential term. That’s six months less than it should take to get a Bachelor’s Degree.

What it means is that, if you spent four years in a Nigerian University, odds are you were out of school for an average of eight months.

That’s one month less than it takes to make a baby, which then explains a lot of things.

It’s created a very big problem for ASUU. Everyone knows that thunder hardly strikes in the same place but ASUU has been doing it for decades.

So when the issue of gaps in our academic calendars comes up, the blame mostly goes in one direction – The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities aka ‘ASUU’ aka “Super Strikers” aka “Sango’s Children” aka… the names go on.

The truth though is that most of these strikes happen over money.

That’s right – we all have the same problems, even when you’re an association with hundreds of members in the 60s and 70s.

For years, ASUU has maintained education deserves a larger chunk of the budget than it gets. And they’re right.

Over 60% of Nigeria’s population is aged below 25 i.e people who should be getting an education.

Yet, only a measly 7% of the 2018 budget was allocated for education at all levels.

For context, the United Nations recommends that all countries allocate 26% of their national budgets to education.

But Naija no dey ever hear word.

Remember something about the ‘renegotiation of the 2009 agreements’?

Well, every time ASUU goes on strike, the FG pulls out its mediators, holds several meetings at midnight with the lecturers, agrees to a new set of terms.

The strike gets called off.

And everyone moves on.

Till they remember nothing has changed.

Rinse, Repeat.

It’s a vicious cycle. While the rest of the country resumes work or school today, undergraduates around the country will have their lives on hold for the 63rd day running.

Despite seven meetings, ASUU and the FG have failed to reach an agreement on a way forward.

After a meeting at the end of December 2018, ASUU’s Oga at the Top dropped the names of 11 universities where lecturers are underpaid’.

He also said “the government kept saying they were working on it. If they pay that money, we will have something to take back to our members.”

So, yes, money is the problem. But odds are if you asked the FG, you’d get one response…

It’s now two months and counting since students around the country were made to start their Christmas holidays early, or take quick vacations to bae’s house.

You’ve heard all the regular bits of advice by now; learn a trade, read some books, travel (if you have dollars), pick up a hobby, and put your time to good use.

Either way, negotiations are ongoing. ASUU and the FG have scheduled another meeting for Monday, January 7.

Let’s hope the money flows and the halls can be filled again.

Whatever happens, we’ll let you know.

You can bet on it.

Segun Akande

January 7, 2019

Campus

ASUU, Nigerian, Strike, Universities