• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home National Buhari’s Government Dragged to UN over Failure to End ASUU strike
  • National

Buhari’s Government Dragged to UN over Failure to End ASUU strike

By
Bamisope Adeyanju
-
December 30, 2018
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari’s Government Dragged to UN over Failure to End ASUU strike

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has sent an urgent appeal to two UN special rapporteurs urging them to “prevail upon the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to reach an agreement to end the ongoing strike action by ASUU, which continues to have real and dire consequences on the right to higher education, specifically university education, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party.”

In the urgent appeal dated 28 December 2018 and signed by SERAP senior legal adviser Bamisope Adeyanju, the organization said: “By failing to prevent and end the ongoing strike action by ASUU, the Nigerian government has defied and breached the explicit requirements of the right to equal access to higher education by Nigerian children and young people, under article 13(2)(c) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.”

The urgent appeal sent to Ms. Koumbou Boly Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to education and Professor Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights argues that: “The failure by the Nigerian government to reach an agreement with ASUU has also implicitly made access to higher education a privilege of the rich and well-to-do rather than a right of every Nigerian child and young person, as students in private schools continue to attend classes while those in public universities stay at home.

According to SERAP, “The failure to end the ongoing strike action by ASUU is also a fundamental breach of the right to higher education without discrimination or exclusion, as strike actions continue to penalise economically disadvantaged parents who have no means or lack the capacity to pay to send their children to private schools.

The urgent appeal read in part: “The obligations of the Nigerian government to create the conditions necessary for the enjoyment of the right to education include to take preventive measures to address the root causes of strike action by ASUU and to take steps to end any strike action in a timely manner when it occurs.”

“It is the responsibility of the government to preserve and strengthen education as a public good and a matter of public interest. Without the urgent intervention of the Special Rapporteurs, the ongoing strike action by ASUU would continue and this would continue to impede access to university education for the poor and marginalized.”

“SERAP is concerned that Nigerian students in public universities have suffered many years of academic disruption as a result of the failure of successive Nigerian governments to address the root causes of strike action by ASUU and to timely reach agreement to end strike action and its devastating consequences on the right to equal and quality higher education.”

“Persistent strike actions in the education sector have continued to cause disruption of classes and undermine both the quality and duration of students’ education.”

“We note that the right to strike is one of the fundamental means available to workers to promote their interests. However, we are seriously concerned that the failure by both the Nigerian government and ASUU to make substantial progress in negotiations and reach amicable settlement to end the unduly prolonged strike action has undermined the right of Nigerian children and young people to higher education.”

Read Also:

  • PSC, NECA Partner to Develop AI-Enabled Complaint System for Ethical Policing
  • ICPC, UBEC Partner to Promote Transparency in Basic Education Sector
  • Critical Appraisal of Mike Arnold’s Findings on Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria, By Prof. Adam Abba-Aji

“The ongoing strike action by ASUU in Nigeria if not urgently addressed would continue to have grave consequences for the youth of our country as well as the country’s development and progress as a whole.”

“Universal access is an essential prerequisite for the exercise of the right to education. But the failure by the Nigerian government to end the strike action by ASUU has contributed to denying students from disadvantaged backgrounds equal access to university education, as these students are unable or lack the capacity to pay to access private schools.”

“This situation has aggravated existing disparities in access to university education in the country, further marginalizing economically disadvantaged parents and students.”

“SERAP believes that providing Nigerian children and young people equal access to higher education should be the core public service functions of the Nigerian government. Providing public schools ranks at the very apex of the function of a State.”

“SERAP believes that equal access of Nigerian children and young people to quality and uninterrupted education including at the university level would contribute to producing citizens who are fundamentally equal and people who actively participate in society. It would enable people to enjoy the rights as well as fulfil obligations that are associated with citizenship.”

“According to our information, members of ASUU suspended their academic responsibilities in the first week of November 2018, and weeks of negotiations with the Nigerian government since then have yielded no amicable settlement or agreement. ASUU is alleging failure by the Nigerian authorities to implement 2009 agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding.”

“SERAP notes that article 13(2)(c) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights explicitly guarantees the right to higher education, which includes university education. According to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, states parties are required to make higher education including university education available on equal basis, and to ensure the progressive introduction of free education at all levels of education.”

“States parties including Nigeria have obligations to ensure that the liberty of providing education set out in article 13(4) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights does not lead to extreme disparities of educational opportunity for some groups in society.”

“The rights and values enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) all point to the right to the provision of equal access to quality education including at the university level. These rights include human rights, such as the right to equality and the right to human dignity as well as numerous other civil and political rights, such as access to information, which cannot be properly understood or exercised if one is inadequately trained and uneducated.”

SERAP therefore urged the Special Rapporteurs to put pressure on the Nigerian government to:

Take immediate action to end the deadlock in negotiations with ASUU and reach amicable settlement that would ensure that the universities are reopened without further delay and that students return to school;
Increase funding and improve investments in infrastructure and innovation for public universities;
Invest the most in those whose access to education is the most hampered;
Declare education as an essential service in Nigeria to minimise the negative impact of strike action on the right to higher education, including university education

Ms Bamisope Adeyanju
SERAP Senior Legal Adviser

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • ASUU Strike
  • buhari
  • Koumbou Boly Barry
  • Philip Alston
  • SERAP
Previous articleArmy Chief Insists Baga under Control, Launches Operation Python Dance Nationwide
Next articleVIDEOS: How NAF, Allied Forces Bombard Boko Haram Terrorists in Baga
Bamisope Adeyanju
Bamisope Adeyanju
https://prnigeria.com
PRNigeria is the pioneer Press Release Distribution agency in Nigeria. A member of image Merchant Promotions limited, PRNigeria encourages individuals and organisations to be more transparent in their information management. with dedicated Editorial staffs, the PRNigeria ensures that information provided on its platforms are timely, factual and authoritative Read more at: //prnigeria.com/about/
Facebook Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

DIG Hashimu Argungu Rtd PSC Chairman

PSC, NECA Partner to Develop AI-Enabled Complaint System for Ethical Policing

ICPC

ICPC, UBEC Partner to Promote Transparency in Basic Education Sector

Critical Appraisal of Mike Arnold’s Findings on Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria, By Prof. Adam Abba-Aji

NDLEA Unveils Online Portal for Drug Integrity Test, Visa Clearance Certification

Terrorist Peace Dialogue Leads to Release of Over 120 Captives in Northwest, But New Mass Abduction Reported

Gallant Nigerian Troops

Army Arrests 88 Suspects, Recovers Arm, Rescues Hostages Nationwide

Customs Moves Against Vehicle Smuggling, Launches Verification System

NAHCON

NAHCON Inaugurates Aviation Monitoring Committee for 2026 Hajj

Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC

Resolve ASUU Disputes in 4 Weeks or Face Nationwide Strike, Labour Warns FG

Map of Africa

The Kano Model: How Faith Leaders Can Fight Disinformation in Nigeria and West Africa

NIPR Unveils World PR Forum 2026, Says Nigeria Ready to Host the Globe

Two Years of Great Leadership at Voice of Nigeria by Banyinorim Agbo

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • PSC, NECA Partner to Develop AI-Enabled Complaint System for Ethical Policing
  • ICPC, UBEC Partner to Promote Transparency in Basic Education Sector
  • Critical Appraisal of Mike Arnold’s Findings on Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria, By Prof. Adam Abba-Aji
  • Customs, EFCC, KACCIMA Collaborate to Boost Trade Compliance in Kano
  • BUK Launches 10 Solar-Powered Tricycles to Boost Campus Transportation
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
PSC, NECA Partner to Develop AI-Enabled Complaint System for Ethical PolicingICPC, UBEC Partner to Promote Transparency in Basic Education SectorCritical Appraisal of Mike Arnold’s Findings on Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria, By Prof. Adam Abba-AjiCustoms, EFCC, KACCIMA Collaborate to Boost Trade Compliance in KanoBUK Launches 10 Solar-Powered Tricycles to Boost Campus TransportationNDLEA Unveils Online Portal for Drug Integrity Test, Visa Clearance CertificationIn Lagos, Army Clarifies Ojo Shooting Incident, Denies Killing Inside CantonmentTerrorist Peace Dialogue Leads to Release of Over 120 Captives in Northwest, But New Mass Abduction ReportedArmy Arrests 88 Suspects, Recovers Arm, Rescues Hostages NationwideCustoms Moves Against Vehicle Smuggling, Launches Verification SystemCourt Sentences Two to Death by Hanging for Murder of Kano Varsity LecturerNAHCON Inaugurates Aviation Monitoring Committee for 2026 HajjResolve ASUU Disputes in 4 Weeks or Face Nationwide Strike, Labour Warns FGThe Kano Model: How Faith Leaders Can Fight Disinformation in Nigeria and West AfricaNo Christian Genocide in Nigeria, Says FG, Tasks PR Experts on Truthful Narratives
X whatsapp