LESSONS FROM ASUU Let us appreciate the great lessons ASUU has taught us Nigerians so far. Only just now have we begun to see that when we are organized as a people and speak with one voice as ASUU has show, we can bring about a silent revolution of Nigeria just by sitting at home; only just now have we begun to see the power of unionism. Government has been forced by the power of unionism to inject 220 billion annually into university education in Nigeria. Government has also been forced by the quiet but revolutionary power of unionism to raise annual budgetary allocation from eight percent to approximate global standards. Furthermore, government has been taught a lesson in the meaning of COMMITMENT, HONOUR and INTEGRITY: You should be committed to your word; you should learn to honour your word, the promises you make to the masses of Nigeria whether before or after elections - that is integrity. Only this time do we begin to realize that we can force politicians to keep their words by the power of unity, by the power of speaking with one voice. ASUU, bravo! Bravo! We the masses of Nigeria could not have expected less. Are you not the intelligentsia of Nigeria? Are you not the custodian of the heights of knowledge in Nigeria? Hence, you have to TEACH us the lessons we now learn, not just by word but also by deed. Indeed, you are not only our leaders of THOUGHT but also of ACTION. You have shown that not only by your precepts of commitment, honour and integrity but also by your demonstration of such in action in the interest of a better Nigeria. Were it not for your unionism, there would have been no credible hope of a raise in education standard soon in Nigeria. A thousand thanks to you, ASUU! You have taught us Nigerians what it means to organize. Oh, the word organize does remind me now of the late Prof. Iyayis dictum as it drains my eyes of tears! He said to us,ORGANIZE; DO NOT AGONIZE. Let me stop here, friends. I hope we have learnt the lesson, ORGANIZE; DO NOT AGONIZE. Let the masses of Nigeria unite; let the poverty-ridden masses unite; let all Nigerian students unite; let all civil servants unite; let all workers unite! Let every comrade take their place and ORGANIZE the masses and the unions of our people. Let the masses unite! May the noble soul of Prof. Festus Iyayi rest in peace.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 15:50:12 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015