“Why have strikes been the most viable option in the universities for pressurising government to meet its obligations? Is ASUU such an insensitive body that the plight of students does not matter to it? What are the overall implications of the strikes on academic programmes?” Culled From ‘The current ASUU strike By Hope Eghagha March 2003’.
This article is in reaction to the recent strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). While it is expected that arguments or objections would come up based on points I intend to raise in this article, I wish to make it clear that I write with the purest of intentions and without any inclination towards sedition.
Truly we have all watched closely, the drama between the Federal Government of Nigeria headed by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and ASUU comprising mainly of Lecturers of Universities in Nigeria. It is really sad to note that the strike is indeed an avoidable one but due to insensitivity on the part of the striking party, and the destructive nonchalance of the people who are not qualified to be in the oversized positions that they suddenly find themselves.
It is often said in Africa, that when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. Indeed this is true and only so because the two fighting elephants are inconsiderate of the fate of the grass beneath while they pursue their own selfish interest of supremacy or whatever they might be fighting over. I hereby liken the Federal Government and ASUU to the two proverbial elephants while the suffering grass in this situation, are the students who are innocent and yet are been punished.
I bear more grudges against ASUU and as a challenge, I say, let a representative come forward and prove to us that you (ASUU) are any different from the kidnappers in the Niger-Delta or anywhere in the world. A kidnapper for instance kidnaps a victim and demands for a ransom before releasing the victim. ASUU is kidnapping University students’ future to demand for a ransom from the Government and this they do time and time again. Come to think of it; when the students embark strike actions either to protest unwarranted increase in school fees or other imposition by the school authorities or the Government, your members (our lecturers) threaten heaven and hell to go to class and fail any student that does not attend so why should you force us to pause our future because of your own selfish gains? Is strike actually the only mean by which you can get a bargain with the Government even when you know the effect it has on our future? How many strike actions did you witness as students (at least you all were once students) and how many strike actions have you embarked upon as lecturers? Have you actually thought about these? You guys claim that you want the Government to improve the standard of education in the country but you force the students to stay home for almost a semester because you want more money; is that an improvement? It should be noted that if I am proven right on the kidnapping aspect, then ASUU and its members have committed a crime against humanity.
On the other hand, I am sad about the attitude of the Federal government in handling this issue but I must confess, I am not in any way disappointed. The present situation is in clear contrast with one asking a carpenter to do a mechanics job; he’ll simply make a mess of it.
When president Umaru Musa Yar’adua was elected, a lot of people thought he would favor the education sector having once been a lecturer. But do we have to be reminded that the fact that the lips, the tongue and the teeth live in the same domain called the mouth does not mean that they are best of friends. Some people express disappointment at the president but I say this is not about one person and so when we talk we must talk about the Federal Government headed by president Umaru Musa Yar’adua. Then we would be addressing him as well as all ministers and indeed everyone concerned.
The Government, to the best of my knowledge, among other things, protects the interest of the citizens. The present situation however puts a doubt in my mind as to whether there’s a Government protecting our interest in Nigeria or just a Government interested in making Nigeria a Partisan State. A country where the president, whilst having a lot of issues staring him in the face , would rather tackle a political opponent on a constitutional issue. A country where the secretary of States of The United States had to come all the way to tell us we had a problem of Governance. A country where money is spent and declared publicly but when we look we wouldn’t see the effect of the money spent. What do we really hope to achieve??? We, the students, are the youths of the future that you lay so much hope upon but what are you teaching us to do in the future when we hold the reins. May God forbid however, that we take after you!!!
Why can’t the Government take care of the lecturers and teachers until they resort to their kidnapping ways of striking. The allowance for each Senator to fuel their generating sets are enough to pay the striking lecturers and you still don’t care that we are been sent home due to your nonchalance. Infact this type of insensitivity proves how irresponsibly the officials involved would react if their children or wards are sent home from school due to non-payment of school fees. Oh!!! How would they know when virtually their entire needs are taken care of by the country. How can they know the pain we feel when all their children are either studying abroad or attending private Universities in Nigeria where you are given your graduation date on the day of matriculation.
It is high time we called a spade a spade. ASUU members are free to demand for an increase in their salary and the Federal Government is free to be deaf for however long they feel but all we are asking as students is STOP DESTABILISING OUR FUTURE!!!
We the students are ready to join ASUU in their struggle but there are better ways for them to summon us rather than force us; afterall, you are our lecturers and we can’t fail you if you ask for our help in the right way. We are organized as different students’ bodies and our voices when raised as one can reverberate around the whole world and that, the Government understands quickly. But first we ask that you (our lecturers), to return to the classrooms and give us our mandate. If after that, the Government does not respond, you can be sure that our own JTF (Joint Task Force) can really be a formidable one.
