34th Inaugural Lecture: Uni-Abuja’s Prof. Isaac Obasi Delivers Lecture On Industrial Relations

The Federal University of Abuja held its 34^th inaugural lecture on 28^th March. The prestigious lecture attended by respected dignitaries was delivered by renowned Professor Isaac Nnamdi Obasi of the department of Public Administration.

Speaking on the topic, ‘’Public Policy in the Management of Industrial Relations,’’ Prof. Obasi said that the study of industrial relations can be justified on academic, practical/professional grounds, as well as on grounds of wider benefits to society.On the dynamics of ASUU – Federal Government Relations, he said that during the first quarter of a century (1978 – 2003) of ASUU’s existence, there was hardly any academic session in the history of the Nigerian university system that did not experience either a major or minor disruption of the academic calendar as a result of a national or local (branch) strike action by academics, or one form of protests and demonstrations by students.  

‘’In a study on ASUU Government Conflict in Nigeria, Obasi (1991) revealed that the root of the numerous ASUU strikes, lay beyond their widely believed causes. Generally, the frequent strikes were usually attributed to four causes namely the underfunding of universities, the erosion of university autonomy and academic freedom, poor conditions of service, and lastly poor physical conditions of work (decaying infrastructure). But according to Obasi, these causes were mere superficies or manifestations of a deep rooted fundamental problem that lay in the structure and character of Nigeria’s political economy. And this fundamental problem he argued is the mismanagement of the political economy by the ruling class as represented by corrupt successive federal governments. ASUU leadership attributed this mismanagement to the nature of the prevailing capitalist social order which it strongly reprobated and constantly challenged for its exploitative and oppressive character. On the strength of the evidence then, Obasi concluded that that the resolution of ASUU – Government conflict was intractable and would continue to remain so because of the asymmetric and structure-oriented character of the conflict,’’ he said.

Since most successive governments in Nigeria have been largely conservative, his recommendation is that public policy in wage fixing should reflect among other things a progressive outlook than the present reactionary conservative outlook that has kept the working class struggling with starvation wages. The Nigeria workers, he said, needs a decent wage in a decent work environment in line with International Labour Organization’s (ILO) standards. As far as ILO is concerned, he said, work among other things is a source of personal diginity and family stability. Presently, Nigeria’s minimum wage he said is a far cry from this requirement.

The Man Prof. Obasi

Prof. Isaac Nnamdi Obasi was born in the year 1956 to the family of Mr. Innocent and Mrs. Fidelia Obasi of Ezuhu-Nguru, in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. Prof. Obasi is the third out of six children. Despite the fact that his parents had no formal classroom education, they knew the value of education which spurred them to ensure that their children got formal education despite the incapacitating effects of the Nigerian civil war. Today, we are all witnesses to their little effort in caring and nursing of young Isaac several years ago.  

His Education

He started his primary school education at the LA Primary School, Ezuhu-Nguru in 1963. He later transferred and completed his primary education at the All Saints Primary School, Eke-Nguru after the civil war in 1970. He started his secondary education in 1971 at the Mbaise Trade School (MTS) at Udo-na-Obizi in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State where he did class one. He later moved to Emekuku Comprehensive School, Owerri in 1972 where he complete both his secondary and technical education in 1975. Earlier in December 1974 and January 1975 just before completing class 5 (which was the highest secondary education class then), young Isaac sat for the London General Certificate of Education (GCE) as an external candidate and obtained 5 credits. In class 5 (June 1975), he again sat successfully for the City and Guilds of London (Technical) Certificate in Electrical Installation Work and Regulation and made Distinction with A1 in all subjects. This achievement distinguished him with a Certificate of Merit for Academic Excellence as the best Final Year student in his class.

In his thirst for higher education, he applied and got admission to study Political Science at the University of Ibadan in 1978 and subsequently graduated in 1981with a Second Class Upper Division. Again, his outstanding performance earned him the prestigious Sir Isaac Dina Memorial Prize as the best Political Science Student in Public Administration in the class of 1981. Subsequently, he did the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the College of Education, Akwanga (then in Plateau State).