Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has reported the Federal Government
to the United Nation’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights over
its failure to meet the demands of university teachers.
The group
described the situation as a serious breach of obligations by Nigeria under the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to progressively
realize the right to education in accordance with the country’s maximum
available resources.”
The group added: “This fundamental breach is due primarily to the persistent refusal by the government to honour the agreement with members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”
In the petition dated October 25, 2013, and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said: “Although, the government in 2009 agreed with ASUU to improve the governance structures and funding for the operation of universities across the country to around 26 per cent for the period covering 2009-2020, the terms of the agreement have remained largely unfulfilled. Conditions of service for staff members of the country’s universities remain very poor. Further the right of the students to freedom of assembly and association is not fully and effectively respected by the authorities.”
The petition sent to the committee through the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay, also stated that, “under international law, Nigeria is required to demonstrate that, in aggregate, the measures being taken are sufficient to realize the right to education for Nigerian children in the shortest possible time using the maximum available resources.”
“However, the continuing refusal by the government to honour agreements with ASUU constitutes a fundamental breach of these obligations, and shows lack of good faith by the government to implement its voluntary international commitments. One of the best financial investment states can make is education, but the Nigerian government’s investment on education for many years has been only a drop in the ocean, especially when measured in the light of the country’s accrued revenue from oil, and its maximum available resources.
The group added: “This fundamental breach is due primarily to the persistent refusal by the government to honour the agreement with members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”
In the petition dated October 25, 2013, and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said: “Although, the government in 2009 agreed with ASUU to improve the governance structures and funding for the operation of universities across the country to around 26 per cent for the period covering 2009-2020, the terms of the agreement have remained largely unfulfilled. Conditions of service for staff members of the country’s universities remain very poor. Further the right of the students to freedom of assembly and association is not fully and effectively respected by the authorities.”
The petition sent to the committee through the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay, also stated that, “under international law, Nigeria is required to demonstrate that, in aggregate, the measures being taken are sufficient to realize the right to education for Nigerian children in the shortest possible time using the maximum available resources.”
“However, the continuing refusal by the government to honour agreements with ASUU constitutes a fundamental breach of these obligations, and shows lack of good faith by the government to implement its voluntary international commitments. One of the best financial investment states can make is education, but the Nigerian government’s investment on education for many years has been only a drop in the ocean, especially when measured in the light of the country’s accrued revenue from oil, and its maximum available resources.
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