For
some time now, I have been counting my graduation time in months, weeks and
even into days but if the present reality is not sorted out, there is a
likelihood of an extension of the time frame. At a time, the news filtered in
that ASUU (Academic staff Union of Universities) was planning on going on
strike, but we just allowed the news pass as a rumour. But the saying that “within
every rumour there is a truth embedded “came to pass, as on the entrance
into the month of July was greeted by flashing headlines in the media of the
announcement of an indefinite strike by
ASUU.
The ASUU national president, Isa Fagge informed
journalists of the development at a news conference via telephone at the
University of Lagos (Premium Times).
The decision to have the strike was reached at the National Executive Committee
(NEC) meeting of ASUU held at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. The reason for the strike according to him
was as a result of the inability of the federal government to implement some of
the issues contained in a 2009 agreement it had with ASUU.
Let me r- emphasise the contribution I stumbled upon on
the internet “in the opinion of many Nigerian parents, guardians (especially those
not rich enough to send their children abroad for tertiary education) and most
importantly patient helpless Nigerian University students, the word “strike”
has become synonymous with ASUU in recent times...the strikes on 2007, 2008,
and 2009 are still very fresh in the minds of Nigerian students) – zahraddin Abdullahi , Director,
standing committee of Human rights and
Peace(SCORP), Nigerian Medical students Association. Hence, though as troubling as it may sound, it is almost an
“when is it going to happen” issue.
As I read the words of Isa Fagge that the strike will be “Comprehensive,
total, and indefinite” what came to my mind was the plight of fellow
students like me who were going to be bearing the brunt of the whole saga. This
means no supervision of project for final year students, no classes for
students of any level, post graduate students will have their programmes put on
hold, students would be left idle, plans have changed etc, with so many
consequences that will come with this decision. One question continues to
linger in my heart: is strike the only option? To ASUU what is the strike supposed
to do, turn the hands of government officials that have most of their children
studying outside Nigeria? To the government; must these teachers down their
tools before they get your attention? Students what can we do in this situation
because we are tired of always suffering the inefficiencies of the two
elephants? All these questions are ones that if properly answered; matters will
be put into proper perspective and solutions proffered.
I logged on into my Facebook
account this morning and this was the post of my friend: “Arsenal need to sing ASUU and
Thunder in their striking force, that they are very good at striking”. Smiles
of sadness and amusement filled my face as I read and digested that article
garnished with the thought of how these strike actions have affected Nigerian
leaders of tomorrow. The privileged few have chosen institutions in Ghana and
recently Benin republic as escape routes to the strike prone government
tertiary institutions, also private schools like Redeemers, covenant, Babcock,
Afe Babalola University etc have enjoyed the patronage of those that want
uninterrupted and quality education, with the capacity to provide it. But
again, to what extent can a nation, whose educational system is beleaguered
with strike, develop? Although the strike is one of the smallest problems
affecting this sector, but its own consequences are obvious.
The Academic and non – academic staff have gone on strike
when their so called “rights” but
who goes on strike when students are intimidated by their lecturers, who goes
on strike when results are manipulated selfishly or as an act of wickedness,
who goes on strike when students are made to learn under harsh conditions of
learning (that even the people in authority now did not go through. Sometimes
our lecturers tell us they had access to chicken, quality teachers, and
comfortable hostels etc, have these things suddenly disappeared?), who downs
tools when students are extorted of the little money they bring from home? The
answers to the questions are left in your minds to answer. If we refuse to
learn, we will suffer the consequences and even protests have a limit so that
you can graduate well, who defends the right of a Nigerian student?
Even with the sometimes, not favourable and low quality
environment of learning, that we are managing, trying as much as possible as we
can to survive, we still have to suffer strike also. Is this fair? I do not
want to stand on the side of any of the elephant, because we are just the
innocent grasses that suffer, hence supporting any will do us no good. But I
will appeal to both sides to put the future of this nation at the back of their
minds before we make decisions. Do you love this country, or you are just
fighting to get your own share of the national cake. ASUU and the FG, God is
looking at both of you oh, if these students decide to table the matter before
God, every side will be affected, because God always brings Justice (sounding
religious? Yes OH).
In my bid to present the matters of the University
student, let me also emphasise the fact that polytechnic students have been at
home for two months because ASUP( Academic staff Union of Polytechnics ) has
been on strike. Can you imagine two months of your life as a student out of
school? Is this fair for God sake? And
from what I have observed, what forms a bulk of poly students, are people that
tried getting into Universities and they couldn’t make it and now you put them again into further
mental and psychological stress. Again I ask who is fighting for the rights of
the students. What is our gain in this strike? The good lecturers have always
been good (allowance or no allowance), the bad lecturers remain bad (allowance
or no allowance), so what is our gain apart from the suffering?
To my fellow students let us continue to pray for this
nation, things are going worse but it is only “Us” that can make it
better. Our generation is a generation
of promise, with the mandate to turn things around for the better. If our
fathers have failed us and are still failing us, let us take the bull by the
horn to make things better. Let us survive this hardship with the best of
mindsets, coming out to make things right so that the future generation does
not go through the same predicament. The excuse has been that the thorns will
always try to inhibit the growth of the crops, but not if the crops work
together in unity and learn how to survive and blossom in the midst of the
thorns. Can we make sure our children do not suffer the same fate? YES WE
CAN. Please let us shun examination
malpractices, irrespective of the shortcomings of the system, let us do the
right thing always, let us shun vices and conduct ourselves as worthy leaders
in the making. For the time comes that as a city set on the hill, nobody will
be able to hide you. Continue. Try as much as possible as you can to make good
use of the strike period for personal development in all areas of your discipline,
if the lecturers have down their tools , pick up the tools and let the work
continue.
To ASUU happy striking oh, it is our prayer that the
government responds to your requests, so that my fellow students can go back to
class. We have enjoyed a strike free period for some time and thought that
matters like that no more existed, but since according to you, it is a painful
but necessary decision, more grease to your elbow. I believe, if government
does not answer you for months, the students too will not receive lectures for
months and that is fair? Okay! Come to think of it, do they pay you people for
the period you are on strike? If they do, God is still in heaven O and he is
looking very well. Anyway some of the requests made sense, only one sounded very
odd to me, some of you still want to lecture till 70? 65 years is not enough?
Haba, why don’t you just retire at 65 and if you are agile to continue and you
are contributing immensely to the University, you are given a contract. If all
lecturers have to get to 70 before they retire, when the young will bloods
begin to be injected to the system (it’s just a suggestion). Things are
changing and the internet is transforming the world, Experience is essential
and very important, but innovation and new imports drives any development. We
don’t want to be attending our teachers burial while still in school, please we
need you to serve and go and rest; we love you. And please if government did
not answer you quick, please come back to the class because the investment you
make by imparting Knowledge in class can pay you allowances that the government
cannot afford. Hence think on the beautiful proceeds of your honourable
profession and the innocent student and help us out. God bless you.
To the government! “Our Ogas at the top”, I
pay homage to your honourable offices and I bring you greetings from the
student environment, especially those who are going to be staying at home till
you and ASUU resolve your problems. We appreciate the free time, probably the
thought was that the students have been too stressed, let us just give them
some time. Thank you sirs and Ma, but this is detrimental to our education. We
need to graduate and start working so that we can join in taking this nation to
this level, and strikes will not help the issue. If it is on the matter of Unemployment
(probably if we graduate fast we will increase unemployment rate), do not
worry, we are learning to be self sufficient now, with the heart to make this
country better. Please see to the continuation of our academic calendar. I know
that some of your people have their children in private schools or outside
Nigeria, but please the bulk of Nigerians have their children in Federal
institutions and it will not be fair to put us through this situation. Please
help us so that we can help you back. I do not want some of my classmates or
fellow students to start “Yahoo Yahoo”
or get involved in some other vices during this free time and also, you people
are trying, but please try more to help improve the conditions of learning.
Please make our lecturers comfortable too, so that they can teach us well and
also our parents so that they can send us pocket money and allowance. We will
really appreciate more allocations to the educational sector; at least reduction
in the cost of governance will provide enough money for this. I do not want to
remember the amount I was hearing that some government officials were earning
during the fuel subsidy protests, but we can just cut costs and divert the
funds to several other important areas. If you people properly fund our
schools, some of the things you pay for expertise abroad, we will be doing it.
So please encourage research and every other aspect of our educations.
Still to my “ Ogas at the TOP”, students
in the Arts and Humanities need scholarship too, almost all scholarship are for
the sciences and Engineering and it has been discouraging quite a number of
students, so as you look into the ASUU
matter. Look into this too. Please sirs
and Madams do not allow this strike stay for too long, we need to go back to
class. Even though they are not so comfortable, but for the glory ahead we have
decided to endure them.
On the general, let all hands be on
the deck for developmental issues as it affects this country. Let the strike
stop and let the rights of the students be more protected. Nigeria, Good
People, Great Nation.
No comments:
Post a Comment