The ASUU STRIKE: A NIGHTMARE FOR STUDENTS

By: Inuwa Muhammad Goje
 From the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Maiduguri,

Let me start by calling on FG, especially the authorities concerned, to intervene and consider ASUU’s demand, which is a MoU that has been on paper since 2009. Many students will be the victims of the ASUU indefinite industrial action. It may become hard for students to express their feelings over this administration and the ASUU squabble that resulted in hurting their studies and disrupting their academic sessions. 

At times, many people, especially us students, ask themselves why strikes are the only fighting weapon for universities, polytechnics, colleges, academic unions, and other public services to warn or demand something from the government. Why is there no other option than to embark on a strike? Is embarking on a strike the only action for them before the government considers their demands? Those questions may appear ominous to you, but they can be answered.

The present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari looks a bit feebler than the previous administrations when it comes to the welfare of the citizens in terms of educational precedence. The honourable Minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who is a former columnist at the daily trust newspaper, is a popular critic of the past administration over poor policy in the educational sector. He is now in charge of the educational sector, but the trust students have in him that they bestowed on his shoulder was already sold. Aside from the last resolution of 10 months of industrial action by ASUU, the minister of education, Accountant General of the Federation and Minister of Labour are now still annoying ASUU despite being watchful of the consequences on students’ education in particular. They cannot contrive to solve issues before they go out of hand. A number of years back, the word “strike” in our dear country, Nigeria, especially in public schools, was the second most popular word after “graduation”. Most students who have undergone studies in public universities, polytechnics, or colleges have experienced the word “strike” or perhaps they have come across it once in life or many times before being a graduate. (We are the victims).
 
When I see how our schools have become dilapidated and the kind of education system we had, I seriously use cackle and blubber for our country, Nigeria.The way Nigerian leaders are playing with our future by making things hard for the poor is quite unwanted. Their children are not affected because they send them to the best schools abroad. Nigerian leaders should have some pity for their masses.

Lastly, I wish ASUU would not embark on this industrial action. I’m hereby calling on the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to consider the bad feelings and anxiety this strike could cause because COVID-19 already took a lot from us (the students). Nigerian students urged you to please don’t bring another nightmare.