An Assessment of the Impact of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Human Resource Development in Nigerian Universities

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Human Resource Development (HRD) in Nigerian Universities. ASUU as a union of academics in Nigerian Universities has done so much in ensuring proper Human Resource Development in Nigerian Universities. The wage structure that is in place in Nigerian public Universities today is as a result of ASUU struggles. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) which was formerly known as Education Trust Fund (ETF) and saddled with the responsibility of providing funds for the provision and upgrading of teaching and learning facilities and training of University staff is a brain child of ASUU. The Needs Assessment Fund that is also currently used in setting up structures, providing teaching and learning facilities and of course training of academic staff of Nigerian Universities is a fall out of the 2013 ASUU strike that lasted for six months. Based on the foregoing it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that if not for ASUU University education in Nigeria would have collapsed a long time ago. Education is generally very poorly funded at all levels in Nigeria which explains the level of decay in the educational system. This paper therefore contends that ASUU has always played a leading role in Human Resource Development in Nigerian Universities through its numerous and continuous engagements with the Government to always do the needful in ensuring that educational development in Nigeria remains on track. It is recommended that Human Resource Development through qualitatively education should be the priority of government. Education should be properly funded and other proactive measures put in place to ensure that the ivory towers are always in good shape.