ASUU, May Start An Indefinite Strike On 1st July, 2013 - Reason is... Report shows that ASUU might embark on an indefinite strike starting from July 2013. The strike, we understand is still a result of failure of the federal government to implement part of the 2009 agreement signed by the two parties. Whether there’s any element of truth or not, one thing I know of the ASUU strike in my close to 7- year stay in the university is that it has always started as a rumour. In the opinion of many Nigerian parents, guardians (especially those not rich enough to send their children abroad for tertiary education) and most importantly the patient helpless Nigerian university students, the word `strike’ has become synonymous with ASUU in recent times. For some, like my humble self, strike has been chosen by the Union as its surname knowingly or unknowingly. For whenever you hear ASUU, the next one is strike! The strikes of 2007, 2008 and 2009 are very fresh in the memory of Nigerian students and the general public. In the academic calendar of almost all the federal universities, the 2003/2004 session is absent as ASUU spent it striking! From what I was told by those older than myself, this same ASUU strikes were routine in the Nigerian universities in the 1980s and 1990s. Let me clearly state that I for one, used to support ASUU in pressing its demands, as I believe university education in our country has been in a serious mess despite the huge returns from crude oil, especially in the 2000s when Obasanjo was in power, particularly during the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and how that affected the price of that commodity in the world market. Expectedly, Nigeria made a lot of money during that period, and many Nigerians supported the Union’s quest for more funding to the universities, improved wages for the university lecturers, amongst other things. Needless to say, the government’s commitment to education for quite some time in Nigeria has been very disappointing, with budgetary allocation of 7-10% to the education sector, when UNESCO require member states (Nigeria inclusive) to vote at least 26% for the sector. Whatever the demands of ASUU and no matter how genuine the struggle is, ASUU should know that strike is not the one and only solution to the problem, contrary to it seemingly employing that tool to the detriment of especially students, parents and itself at large. Because of ASUU strike and so many other inconsistencies in the Nigerian tertiary education, Nigerian students are made to spend unnecessary number of years pursuing undergraduate degrees in the universities. I got admitted to read medicine in 2006 but seven years after, I am yet to graduate as a doctor for no academic failure but ASUU strike. I consider any argument to embark on any strike by ASUU as inferior and inappropriate for many reasons, taking into consideration the present state of the nation and the myriads of man-made calamities afflicting everyone, day in, day out. Does ASUU think going on strike will prompt any action from the Jonathan administration, at least an immediate one? Definitely if ASUU takes that position, I would conclude that it has lost insight. Because even more pressing issues with potentially immediate threats to the nation’s survival, growth and development are being paid lip service to by the same government ASUU is threatening.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 05:01:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015