ASUU STRIKE:::TIME TO SHIFT GROUND ::: Despite the danger incessant strikes in the education sector would cause to the promising future of the Nigerian students, their families and to the nation at large, all stakeholders remain adamant. Since the year 2009, there has been a power tussle and serious agitation between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The brawl began as a mild complaint over alleged non- compliance by the Federal Government with the Consolidated Universities Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) agreement aimed at addressing the conditions of service, funding, retirement age, autonomy, allowance and academic freedom, and so on. This disagreement has plagued the nation into yet another round of turmoil even when it is yet to recover from the evil menace of kidnapping and bomb blast and insecurity. But come to think of it! ASUU has never embarked on a strike just because of poor infrastructures , inadequate equipment of the laboratories and research centres or poor learning environment (I stand to be corrected, though). It has always been a tale of lack of research grants, brain drain and salary increments and now hazard; of course the infrastructure gets thrown in just to attract students’ sympathy. Need I delve into the commitment, motivational and professional deficiencies of the teaching staff in our universities? It is more a situation where the pedagogical methods of most lecturers are more ancient than modern, dictatorial than interactive and above all, lacking in motivation. Today, we are faced with the increasingly embarrassing reality of graduates with first or higher degrees who have failed woefully on the field. There are many graduates of Mass Communication who do not know the name of any editor of a national daily newspaper or magazine. Many of them cannot write a proper outline to a simple story, essay, column or article. The Federal Government is not any better. Theirs is the case of misplaced priorities – placing their return to the government houses on a higher pedestal to students’ returning to classrooms. It goes a long way to show that we are not truly a democracy- practising nation. In a true egalitarian society, this government would have no moral, political or social right to aspire for a second term. For the records, our universities have been under funded with no clear cut structures and possess archaic equipment that are only fit for museum pieces. Students share part of the responsibilitie s as well ultimately, parents failed to monitor the progress of their children/wards while in the academic community. It is high time the government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan took note of the discouraging reports and act quickly to correct them. It is time for this government to justify why money cannot be voted to revamp the state of the educational system instead of pumping money to purchase air- fleet for politicians, and appropriating it for building unnecessary stadiums. The Federal Government must allow reason and Solomonic wisdom to prevail and be ready to shift ground; ASUU must put its house in order. Government at all levels should save our future. Wishing the problems away may be immoral ambivalence. We need a stable academic calendar for the benefit of our future.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 12:24:28 +0000
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