10 Functions of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria

10 Functions of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria is a trade union that fights for the general development of Nigerian education in the Universities. In doing this, it tries to regulate all that happens between university staff employers and all the people that work in the universities in Nigeria.

The union has functions. We shall look at ten of the functions in this post. The functions of ASUU that we want to look at include:

• Members’ interests protection
• Educational development in Nigerian universities
• Nigerian national development
• Nigerian universities autonomy
• Educational rights of Nigerians
• Adequate funding for Nigerian universities
• Academic freedom in Nigeria
• Proper Nigerian universities administration
• Improvement of Nigerian living standards
• Bringing Nigerian universities to international standards

Functions of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

1. Members’ Interests Protection

ASUU is a trade union in Nigeria. As such, it has members whose interests the union protects. By right, all academic staff members of all the universities in Nigeria, whether private or public, are members of the union.

ASUU protects the interests of its members but protecting the interests of its members does not mean that it fights for the members when they are wrong. ASUU has aims and objectives that guide the members. Where any member goes against the rules of the union, it deals with that member making sure that all goes well in the nation and the universities.

For example, when the union suspected financial mismanagement at the University of Ilorin in 2002, the head of the union at that time, Dr Oladipo Fashina, wrote a petition to ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices Commission) for proper investigation of the authorities there. The school authorities were members of the union. Yet, ASUU did not defend them.

2. Educational Development in Nigerian Universities

The saying that no nation can rise above its educational standards cannot be overemphasized. This is where ASUU has done so well for Nigeria. No matter the input of the senior secondary school to the university system in Nigeria, ASUU makes sure that all is well with them in the universities.

3. Nigerian National Development

ASUU does not fight for its members alone. It fights for Nigerians and Nigerian society in general. It does this by its function of Nigerian national development.

ASUU makes sure that the outputs from the universities in Nigeria are people who can add value to Nigerian society. ASUU does not play with educational standards in the universities. It makes sure that all learning facilities are in place. It makes sure that all the universities in Nigeria have qualified lecturers.

4. Nigerian Universities Autonomy

One of the functions of ASUU is the autonomy of all the universities in Nigeria. ASUU does not allow the governments, whether federal or state, to downplay academic standards in the universities.

The function of making the universities in Nigeria to be autonomous ensures that all the universities meet ASUU’s requirements. One problem in Nigeria is not helping the universities to grow as needed. Therefore, ASUU makes sure that the universities in Nigeria are capable of caring for themselves.

ASUU does not allow corruption in the universities. It does not compromise educational standards in the universities for money. ASUU makes sure that internally generated revenues in the universities are used to develop the universities.

5. Educational Rights of Nigerians

This function of ASUU is in line with the policy of making sure that all Nigerians are educated. Therefore, ASUU fights for the educational rights of all Nigerians. ASUU makes sure that nobody denies Nigerians the right to quality education in Nigerian universities.

One good thing about ASUU is that it does not fight for only its members. As far as university education is concerned in Nigeria, ASUU fights for all Nigerians. ASUU provides enabling environment in all Nigerian universities.

6. Adequate Funding of Nigerian Universities

This function of ASUU makes it to ensure that all owners of universities fund their schools adequately. ASUU does not compromise on this angle because the universities in Nigeria cannot do the needful where there are no funds.

For instance, ASUU requires that all university staff be paid fair wages. The universities will default in this area if they do not have enough funds. ASUU also requires that university academic staff members be given research grants to enable them to embark on reasonable research in their fields. Therefore, ASUU will not be happy with any university authorities that are unable to provide their academic staff with the needed research grants. It is for this reason that ASUU always fights for adequate funding for the universities in Nigeria.

7. Academic Freedom in Nigeria

In this function, ASUU fights for all Nigerians to have academic freedom. To ASUU, all university lecturers in Nigeria should engage in any form of research without restrictions. In the same vein, all students in Nigeria should pursue any gainful knowledge without interference from anybody.

8. Proper Nigerian Universities Administration

This function makes ASUU ensure the proper administration of Nigerian universities. Some people think that ASUU fights against the government. No, ASUU does not fight against the government. Instead, it fights against whatever is wrong with academic processes in the universities.

ASUU does not care about whose ox it gores. It is ready to go against maladministration in any university. ASUU does not defend its members when they are wrong. It stands for whatever is right. Whatever is not right, it goes against it. Thus, ASUU ensures sanity in Nigerian universities.

9. Improvement of Nigerians’ Living Standards

In this function, ASUU ensures that all university staff members are well paid. These staff members, being members of Nigerian society, spend the money they are paid in society. Thus, the money becomes flowing capital in Nigerian society.

It goes to mean that traders will equally benefit from the high wages of the lecturers. Thus, ASUU improves the living standard of all Nigerians.

10. Bringing Nigerian Universities to International Standards

This function enables ASUU to compare academic standards in Nigerian universities to what is obtainable in the international community. By this function, ASUU has made many Nigerians not go abroad for studies.

It is for this reason that ASUU does not tolerate poor funding of Nigerian universities. When funds are available, lecturers can embark on any research that enables them to measure up to international standards. ASUU does not play with academic facilities in the universities. It makes sure that all Nigerian universities have adequate facilities that are equal to what other universities outside Nigeria have. Thus, ASUU makes sure that Nigerian universities come up to international standards.

ASUU and Strikes

What makes some people misunderstand ASUU’s functions are strikes. Strikes are ASUU’s major tools with which it carries out its functions. Whenever its demands are not met, the next thing is to go on strike.

Worst of all, ASUU does not mind how long a strike takes. All that it is always after is the meeting of its demands. Well, it is difficult to blame ASUU in total for its strikes because strike seems to be the only language the Nigerian government hears. Therefore, ASUU prefers to speak to the Nigerian government in the language it understands.

Historically, ASUU has also achieved a lot in this way. May God help them to do more than it has already done for Nigeria.

See Also: 

• 10 Problems Facing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria
• 10 Ways to Improve Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria

A Wrap-Up

To avoid ASUU’s incessant strikes, the Nigerian government should always listen to ASUU. If the universities are good, they are good for all of us Nigerians, including the government.

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