The federal government’s separate handling of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes is renewing debate for national priorities.
On Monday, the federal government directed vice-chancellors of federal universities to strictly enforce the ‘no work, no pay’ policy against members of ASUU, currently on strike.
However, when oil workers embarked on strike in September, the government handled the matter separately, appealing to them through the Ministry of Labour and Employment until the issue was resolved.
Muhammad Dingyadi, minister of Labour and Employment, said the meeting with PENGASSAN was crucial to ensure that the dispute did not have adverse effects on the Nigerians.
“We know that PENGASSAN is very peaceful, and we have known for a very long time, and we consider them as friends, and people who wish this country well.
“So, we want to make sure that what is happening now is not extended negatively to the people of this country. That’s why we’re taking urgent steps to ensure that we come in as people who’re in the middle of this journey to see how we can resolve this issue,” he said in part.
Juxtaposed with the ASUU, concerns are that the handling of both issues is inconsistent.
As a result, some stakeholders say this may be sending a wrong signal that Nigeria prioritises oil over education.
Jessica Osuere, chief executive officer at RubiesHub Educational Services, said the double standards show the government’s value system.
“Sadly, the government is prioritising revenue generation over education.
“ASUU members depend on government salaries and operate within the public service structure, making them easier targets for coercion. PENGASSAN, on the other hand, is an independent and economically strategic body. The government cannot easily threaten those who hold the nation’s oil valves,” she said.
Nubi Achebo, director of Academic Planning at the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), emphasised that the government’s approach might be influenced by the specific circumstances and priorities surrounding each situation.
Achebo, however, reiterated that while the government’s stance might seem inconsistent, it is likely driven by a combination of factors, including the specific circumstances of each situation, economic considerations, and public perception.
“Ultimately, the government’s response will depend on its priorities and the relative pressure exerted by each union,” he said.
Gift Osikoya, a parent with children attending public universities, said the contrasting responses reveal a fundamental issue, such as the government prioritising sectors based on immediate economic impact rather than long-term national development.
“When PENGASSAN threatens strikes, the government quickly appeals and negotiates because oil revenue is the lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy, and disruption means immediate loss of foreign exchange and government revenue.
“However, with ASUU, the ‘no-work-no pay’ hard-line approach suggests education is viewed as less urgent, despite its critical role in national development,” she noted.
Isaiah Ogundele, an administrator, wondered why Nigerians are surprised that the government is playing double standards, bearing in mind that education has no face in the country.
“There’s no regard for academics, so lectures can go on strike. It is the children of the poor masses who will suffer it.
“The oil sector is the bane of the Nigerian economy. The political class and the elite can never joke with the issue. That’s why the government was trying to stoop down for PENGASSAN, who happened to be the thorn in the flesh of Nigeria,” he said.
Similarly, Christopher Nmeribe, a teacher, said the government’s stance over the ASUU and PENGASSAN impasse is a matter of priorities; oil is more important than education.
“After all, their children and others who can afford it can travel overseas to get educated, or better still, forge their certificates as merit matters very little.
“But oil wells should not be joked with because that’s the calamity that has befallen Nigeria,” he lamented.
However, Friday Erhabor, director of Media and Strategies at Marklenez Limited, said: “Once they succeed with it with ASUU, it can be applied to other sectors. We don’t need all these incessant strikes that distort the school calendar. ASUU should find another way of pushing for their demands.”
The disparity
Osikoya emphasised that the government’s double standards could be borne out of the fact that oil strikes directly hit government coffers within days, while education sector strikes have less visible economic impacts.
Nevertheless, she said this reflects a broader governance problem, prioritising immediate revenue over investment in human capital that yields returns over decades.
She maintaine that this double standards are symptomatic of treating education as expenditure rather than investment.
“It raises questions about fair labour practices. If ‘no-work-no-pay’ is the principle, why isn’t it applied consistently across all sectors?” Osuere queried.
