SOURCE:

Faculty: Arts
Department: Theatre And Film Studies

CONTRIBUTORS:

Azunwo E. Emenike
Nwadigwe Charles
Nwosu C. Canice

ABSTRACT:

Trade disputes, especially those that exist between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Port Harcourt Branch, Management and the Governing Council and by extension Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), have not been tackled with theatre for Development approach; especially by academics who incidentally are the most affected by these incessant strike actions. Thus, this study investigates the industrial disharmony that exists between ASUU, University of Port Harcourt Management, and the Governing Council and by extension the FGN in a bid to addressing the issues of rot and incessant strike actions in Nigeria tertiary institutions and creating lasting peace in the university. Through the medium of Theatre-for-Development, (TfD), an approach which conscientises, sensitises and mobilises both ASUU and FGN into taking positive actions that will revitalise and solve the problems of these institutions in Nigeria. This study aims at producing an interventionist performance “Gbuji” as a dramatic resolution to the conciliation of ASUU, University of Port Harcourt Management, and the Governing Council and by extension the FGN’s lingering conflicts and re-examines the dogmatic views of the parties involved in the disputes. The study applies Gene Sharp’s (1973) “Theory of Power”(the theory and principle of Non-violent action) and Paulo Freire’s (1968) “Critical Pedagogy” as theoretical frameworks. The research designs used for this study are mixed methods, which involves presentation of “Gbuji” and the textual analysis of the subject matter. The study discovers that the children of the political class are not affected by ASUU strikes, because they do not attend public universities. The research equally discovers the adverse effects of breakdown of academic calendar through industrial disharmony in any nation, the shock, hazard, emotional trauma, psychological breakdown, which culminate into the lives of thoroughly bred students and academics. The study recommended that Nigerians should persuade the national assembly into making legislations that will clearly define and set the basic conditions for holding public offices. The research recommends that University of Port Harcourt Management and Governing Council should amicably settle all the on-going disputes in the university swiftly without regularly washing the dirty garments publically. Hence, Prof Frank Ugiomoh should be recalled and Prof Andrew Efemini be pardoned and due processes should be followed with objectivity.