Nigeria students need to take
a more active position on issues that affect them, writes Joe O. Odey
Former President Goodluck Jonathan paid N200 billion for upgrade works to commence in the 84 public universities across the country. The outstanding balance of N1.1 trillion was to be paid in annual tranches for five years.
After
that 2013 disbursement, the federal government failed to make the subsequent
yearly payment expected in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018; prompting the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on the strike that is
currently ongoing. After the 2013 ASUU – FG accord, the federal government has
apparently shown very little (if any) interest in addressing this quality of tertiary
education issue being canvassed by ASUU. Even the government of change which
rode to power in 2015 promising to totally revamp the education sector has done
very little to keep to the accord – refusing to pay the 2015, 2016, 2017 and
2018 tranches of payments totalling N880 billion to the universities.
This
government apathy towards education has been plausibly attributed to the fact
that the offspring of policymakers and government officials in the corridors of
power (who have the wherewithal to settle the education matter once and for all
times) do not school in Nigerian public schools, hence their apathy and lack of
concern.
It is public knowledge that two children of President Muhammadu Buhari – Zara and Yusuf – graduated from a London University a while ago. Recently, Ahamefula, the son of Governor Rochas Okorocha also graduated from a Manchester University.
It is public knowledge that two children of President Muhammadu Buhari – Zara and Yusuf – graduated from a London University a while ago. Recently, Ahamefula, the son of Governor Rochas Okorocha also graduated from a Manchester University.
Last
November, Professor Abubakar Adamu, a former Vice Chancellor of Bayero
University, Kano, who is presently the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian
Universities Commission (NUC) publicly flaunted his son’s graduation from a
British university, right in the thick of the ASUU strike.
It is very evident that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is now a shadow of its former self. Rather than seek to charge the government to account for its refusal to be concerned about our ailing universities, NANS has maintained a studied, embarrassing silence in the face of this debacle.
It is very evident that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is now a shadow of its former self. Rather than seek to charge the government to account for its refusal to be concerned about our ailing universities, NANS has maintained a studied, embarrassing silence in the face of this debacle.
Officials
of the association, having deviated from the objectives of safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of students in the country (which is the sole reason for
its existence), switched to singing the praises of politicians who can hardly
be said to have contributed in any way towards the improvement of education in
the country as well as awarding worthless plaques to them.
Some
days ago, the NANS PRO, one Bestman Okereafor was in the news commending
President Buhari and requesting him to reshuffle his ministers. Not a single
word about the ongoing strike was said by the PRO. This goes to buttress the
present decayed state of the association.
Government has to introspectively examine its lacklustre approach to this education reform demand of ASUU. So far, it has given the matter short shrift and this neglect is deepening the decay of the education sector in the country. Government has to stop reneging on the pact it signed with ASUU – no excuse suffices for this inconsistency considering what is at stake.
Government has to introspectively examine its lacklustre approach to this education reform demand of ASUU. So far, it has given the matter short shrift and this neglect is deepening the decay of the education sector in the country. Government has to stop reneging on the pact it signed with ASUU – no excuse suffices for this inconsistency considering what is at stake.
This
present state of affairs is unhealthy for any nation that seriously desires
developmental progress. It is therefore obligatory for the government to give
urgent attention to the education area (in line with ASUU’s plea) and renew its
commitment to the total overhaul of the sector in the interest of the future of
the country. The campaign for educational reform should not be left to ASUU
alone. Nigerian Students (being the worst affected by government indolence and
refusal to do the needful) have to take a far more active interest in these
matters. Rather than idle by and expect things to sort themselves out, students
should be asking questions and prodding government to keep its word by
implementing its part of that agreement – the revitalisation of tertiary
learning in the country.
It is
election season and students constitute a massive voting bloc. In preference to
spending every spare moment on social media hurling invectives at one another
across political divides, students can band up and trenchantly demand positive
action from political parties and candidates, especially the ones in office,
before considering them for electoral support.
It would be a fine thing also if
NANS can rouse itself from its slumber and mobilise the students it marginally
represents to form one united front which will pressure the government to yield
to the rational enjoinment for educational reform.See as; Obasdanjo claims he his Nigeria's watchman
ASUU,
despite having undeniably genuine demands and crucial concerns has to eschew
its evidently solipsistic posture and find a common, workable ground with the
government, especially in these days of national fiscal privation.
The union should do well to consider the plight of students who are hardest hit by the disruption occasioned by this ongoing industrial action. It has succeeded to bring the federal government to the negotiation table and should endeavour to reach a workable understanding in the interest of all concerned parties.
The union should do well to consider the plight of students who are hardest hit by the disruption occasioned by this ongoing industrial action. It has succeeded to bring the federal government to the negotiation table and should endeavour to reach a workable understanding in the interest of all concerned parties.
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