The education of students today is being placed at stake all because of the ASUU strike.
This is exactly the ninth time ASSU strike is coming up, and it has been affecting students of various universities.
In the year 2009, there was a 4 month strike (ASSU strike) for 2007 agreement that the government didn’t meet with the demand for increase of budgetary allocation to education in Nigeria.
The following year (in 2010), there was also an indefinite strike which started by July and lasted for about five months. The following year as well 2011, I couldn’t forget the strike that lasted for 59 days strike which happened because the government didn’t meet the demand made in the year 2009.
As if this strike wasn’t enough, two years after (in 2013), the University lecturers went on 6 months strike as they demand for the retirement age of professors (70 instead of 65) and also to increase the allocation of education from 15% to 20% of the country’s annual budget.
In the year 2014, there was a one week warning strike because the government did not implement the 2009 agreement. This is the second time there is a strike heading the 2009 demand not met.
I am giving detailed history of strike experiences because I want the government to hear the voice of our leaders.
Three years after the one week issuance of strike (2017), After signing another MoU in September the Union suspended the 36-day strike that happen because the government failed to implement agreement from previous year.
The following year, there was a three month strike because of poor funding of education and increment of school fees that the government planned. Two years after (2020), the Union embarked on 9month strike for the sake of non-payment of allowance to lectures who did not enroll under the government payroll system, which ASSU want to replace with their own.
The leadership of this country ( the so- called Giant of Africa) has proven to be poor. Psychologically, this act is having a negative effect to students. For how long will Nigeria continue in the same phase? Making promises and not fulfilling them?. It’s just so absurd.
Nigeria is the largest economy and the most populous country in Africa (largest economy in Africa, the 25th largest in the world by nominal GDP and largest by PPP).
Despite the so- called economy she has,the educational sector is still very poor. On February 14 2022, the Union stated 4 weeks warning strike because the government failed to execute one MoU which demanded payment of academic staff allowances, review of the payment system and case of establishment of many universities of the country.
Because of the reluctant, wickedness, greediness and nonchalant attitude of our leaders the academic sector have been set ablaze thereby acting as a threat to the academic sector.
Through the incessant strike, many youth have gone astray, they have given up, many have gone down the lane of depression while some have dropped out. Aren’t the government seeing the negative effect of this act? When will their demand be met?
Although, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said he is willing to reach an agreement with the striking University lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU).
The painful part of this strike is that the impact is still felt among universities. The school calendar changes, which doesn’t favor students at all and classes become tougher because they are trying to balance the calendar. It’s affecting students mentally for heaven’s sake?. Courses supposed to be studied for a particular number of period will be increased or multiplied by two, it’s outrageous, what sort of Giant of Africa do we call ourselves?
Today ASUU met with FG to deliberate on the demand placed on their desk, we believe and hope that they hear the cry of our youth and call-off the strike.
This strike is really causing pains and tension to the youth of this nation, so we plead for the government to consider and settle the demands , they shouldn’t stand as a hurdle to our Education.
Education is the best friend. Hail Nigeria!, Hail the Giant of Africa. God bless Nigeria
