ASUU STRIKE AND THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE

ASUU STRIKE AND THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE

By Oluwaseyi Oduyela/Washington DC

ASUU strike is hitting 5th month now!

As a university student then, all I knew was strike and when I became a lecturer at Tai Solarin College of Education and served as the first Assistant Secretary of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union-COEASU, any time we had disagreement with the college management, we go on strike against the Zaccheus Odumosu-led administration.

Strike seems to be the only weapon ASUU knows to fight for their demands.

Now the question is at whose expense?

The victims here are the students. While ASUU will get back pay for time they were on strike, the students get nothing for their wasted. A student who was to spend 4 years will end up spending 5 years, in a country where age is a factor to get a job. And once you are over 28 with your B.A. God help you in getting a job.

Lecturers are not the losers here. Not those who have contracts with UNESCO, UNICEF, UN, WHO, IMF etc. In fact this is a blessing for them.

I heard from a friend (lecturer) that part of the fight is for the students and I asked why NANS or Student Union has in various schools join in solidarity?

Teaching is a noble profession, it is a social call. I hope Nigerian Professors will consider that they have obligations to their students and think of another way to fight for their, whatever they are fighting for without holding these students as hostages.

They are not just holding these kids as hostages; they are holding their future hostage too.

The strike tactics has not been working, they should think of something more meaningful and use morals in making decisions.

Education is the pillar of a country, that is the factory for national development and we believe that our Ivory towers should be above board but in this situation, there is no difference between the dysfunctional government of Nigeria and an ASUU with a spent strategy.

While this is killing the public education system, private universities are booming forcing people to exorbitantly for education and turning education into another “ education is not for the poor,” just as David Mark said about telephone when he was the Communication Minister.

I am sure many of those who are in the universities as professors, have passion for the job, we love to impart knowledge but this is not how to do it.

Even if we blame those in government, after all, (the president used to be a lecturer of Zoology at a college of education) people in Ivory tower have failed in the duties as the brain of the society. In most countries, universities serve as policy centers but I am not if that is the case in Nigeria.

ASUU should look inward, strike inward to do some internal cleansing before coming out to the public to present any fight because they seem now to lack the locus standi to do that.

Our students have been rubbed of exchange program opportunities while it is easier for professors to find universities abroad for their sabbatical leaves. This is unfair to the students.

I don’t think ASUU should be co-conspirators in the bringing down of the Nigerian State by helping to destroy its educational system and standard.