Librarians in Crisis of Status, Identity and Marginalization

Abstract

The paper is a critique of the 2009 Agreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria as it affects the academic status and identity of librarians in Nigerian university libraries. The areas identified and discussed in the ASUU/FGN document include Composition of ASUU Re-Negotiation Team, List of Advisers, Responsibility Allowance, Excess Workload Allowance, and Retirement Age of Academics in the Professorial Cadre. The paper observed that the document is an attempt to marginalize and relegate the librarians in Nigerian university libraries as support staff and not as academic staff as the document is prepared to cater for the welfare of lecturers only. Recommendations that will enhance the status of librarians in Nigerian universities are provided.

Keywords

• Librarians, Status, Marginalization, University, ASUU/FGN agreement

References

1. Agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), October, 2009.
2. Association of College and Research Libraries Standards for Faculty Status for Academic Librarians. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/faculty
3. The Constitution and Code of Practice of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as amended by the National Delegates’ Conference (NDC) Held at the University of Abuja, Abuja, June 3, 2012.
4. Farkas, M. (2005). Librarians in Academia: Faculty or Support Staff. Retrieved from http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2005/10/08/librarians-in-academia-faculty-or-support-staff/
5. Hosburgh, N. (2011). Librarian Faculty Status: What does it mean in Academia? Library Philosophy and Practice.
6. Joint Statement on Faculty Status of Colleges and University Librarians. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/jointstatement/faculty
7. National Universities Commission (NUC) (1997) Manual on University Management, Abuja.
8. Ogunruku, Ayorinde. (2012). University Administration in the 21st Century: A New Direction. Ile-Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University, Press Ltd.

9. Okojie, J. A. (2010). Interpretation of ‘’Professional Cadre’’ in the ASUU-FGN Agreement, 2009: A Letter to all Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities, 8 March.
10. Oyinloye, M. A. (1992). The Pioneers: William John Harris (1903-1980). World Libraries, 2(2).
11. Resolutions of the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Held at the University of Calabar on Saturday, September 18- Sunday 19, 2010.
12. Rules and Regulations Governing the Conditions of Service of Senior Staff Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko. Akungba: Ajasin Varsity Investment Ltd, 2013.
13. Salaam, M. O., & Onifade, F. N. (2009). Academic Status and the Doctoral Degree Requirement for Promotion of Librarians in Nigerian University Libraries. Library Philosophy and Practice.
14. Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2010 Enacted by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.