By Ofili Nonso
It is often said that “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers.” At the moment, it is imminent that students nationwide will feel the full weight of the “fight” as the Academic Staff Union of Universities recently declared a 1-month warning strike.
Of course, the battle between the union and the government dates back to time immemorial, with the same reasons, again and again. ASUU demands include: revitalization of public universities, earned allowance, improved funding of state universities, and promotion arrears.
Others are the replacement of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) with its own University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in the payment of emoluments to its members.
Alfred Godwin, a student of Architecture at the University of Lagos said: “A warning strike should precede a major strike. I feel this one month is too much for a warning strike. Two weeks is better than that one month. Does ASUU think the government would act within that month, the government we know?”
Students now compare their stipulated years and the time they’ve wasted. The blame, however, is on both government and ASUU, after all, students expected both parties to reach a compromise and do all that was required to avert the strike.
In 2020, ASUU had embarked on a nine-month strike over the government’s failure to honour its part of a deal sealed in 2009. Even after the lockdown, students still felt the strain, staying at home without any academic activity. The lecturers, however, called off the strike after a series of meetings with the Federal Government.
“For me, I’m not in a hurry to leave school. This one month strike is needed for me to prepare and read. All I hope for is that it doesn’t exceed that span. Let me use this period to gather myself and prepare for the semester’s exams,” said Daniel.
For Durodola, the desire to leave school isn’t appealing to him, after all, the government has nothing in store for the youths after school.
“I’ll do better to utilize my remaining days of this unwanted but highly appreciated holiday. Are you an undergraduate? Tell me, what are you doing with your free time? What skills are you learning or honing?”
Just like Faith Enang, a 300-Level student at UNILAG, millions of students have accepted their fate and are seeking other things to do, rather than wait in despair for the strike to end.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, has said industrial action does not bode well for students and lecturers.
Abdulkareem said even as a member of ASUU as far back as 1996 he never believed going on strike was the right thing to do.
A student, who pleaded anonymity said: “Education should be heavily invested on in the country. You give lecturers small fees, and yet, you don’t even pay frequently. How do you expect them to be happy? I’m sympathetic with the lecturers, but they are wasting our time and lives.”
The fact remains: ASUU versus the Federal Government. It is saddening that there is no light yet at the end of the tunnel, with academic activities in public universities halted. Year in, year out, there are expectations not met and students not taught. Will the cycle ever end?
At the moment, our education has been on hold, because of a rift between the duo. I really hope they end this on time. I want to go to school.
For me, this strike is an avenue to hone my abilities to the best. At least, I have some time to do some things. Yet, let them not extend it again.
This is a well penned article. Kudos to the writer.
As much as I want to blame ASUU for putting us through pain, I will still hold the federal government for their lackadaisical attitude towards our education. Interesting article, I tell you.
“will the cycle ever end?” This is the critical question that resonated with me. It’s rather unfortunate that like most problems in Nigeria, the issue of academic strikes have a long history and it all stems from an apathy from government officials to actually solve these problems at their roots. They would rather give short term solutions
till the problem resurfaces.
Let them reach a compromise abeg. The lives of millions of students are in their hands.
I don’t really want to resume school, to be frank. At the same time, staying in school for too long can be annoying too. I should have graduated since.
The rift between the federal government ad ASUU didnt begin today. I only hope it gets better….