ASUU Strike: A Blessing or A Curse

The Nigerian Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has been on a serious rift with the Federal Government (FG), resulting in an almost half a year strike. It is unbelievable to say that the university in a country rich with mineral resources have been on strike because the government is owing the staff union. There has been so many reaction from students and it seems not to change anything. Our leaders don't even show enough care about the situation. Students are tired of staying at home and one of my friends has come up with a wonderful write-up which I am to share with you guys.

After debating on the strike topic with him, he ended up coming up with the below writings..

ASUU STRIKE: A BLESSING OR A CURSE

It's no more a joke that there is agreement contention (dispute) between FG and ASUU. Which has been on ground for roughly five months now. Nigerians should find a way to save themselves if the government cannot save them.

The fact here remains that the key demands of ASUU is yet to be sorted out. Be that as it may, we as a people should acknowledge the gravity of the matter and the truth therein by encouraging ASUU to listen to the government despite the fact that the government is unconcerned. ASUU as a union of intellectuals should obey the government first, and then watch the aftermath of their obedience afterwards.

As we all know that Nigeria is our nation, and we don't have another. Respecting this truth, everyone should get involved in making things work for the good of all. We all cannot be right and wrong at the same time. It's therefore important, absolutely imperative that we reevaluate our various choices both as individuals and as a union.

As the president ordered ASUU to call off it's five months strike, common sense should tell us that this is a good chance to put the loyalty of the president to test by giving the FG benefit of the doubt; this therefore implied that a favorable judgement should be allowed to ensue even in the absence of full evidence.

NOW AS IT STAND'S, THE CRITICAL QUESTIONS REMAINS:

What is the way forward? And where do we go from here?

i.) Are we better off with the Strike or should we Call Off?

ii.) Do we continue to engage in a costly struggle (mortal combat) which will eventually end in pyrrhic victory, that's a very costly victory, wherein the considerable losses outweigh the gain, so as to render the struggle not worth the cost.

HERE'S MY PERSONAL SUGGESTIONS

i.) ASUU as a body should rethink, seeing that the educational system which they're striving to protect is left in shambles.

ii.) ASUU should imbibe constructive influence using divergent philosophies and strategic trajectories.

Everyone is obligated to question himself on the most favourable options to adopt as a "pressure group" (ASUU) and as a people (students). Although, it's not going to be palatable, but something must be done despite; "Enough is Enough".

Stan added that no president is above the law in any nation. Justice should always serve the people - it shouldn't protect the powerful. Despite the level of your deception, one thing you must know is that the holy book says: The speaker of lies shall not be established.

(Psalm 101:7)

We have read, we also have known the truth, yet we have not been helped, we're not moving forward. How long shall my people be deceived? How long shall we remain in darkness? According to Margaret Atwood, "there’s the story, ​then there’s the real story, then there’s the story of how the ​​story came to be told. Then there’s what you leave out of the ​story. Which is part of the story too". My take on these issues is that any damn fool can make it ​complex; it takes a genius to keep it simple. Sorry to say, but I am afraid that thing's might remain the same, not until we learn how to be compassionate towards another.

The nation and the people need a dose of compassion. Truth cannot be hidden, everything is as clear as crystal. The people know what they're doing. That's the reason why the holy book says: Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

Proverbs 9 vs 8

The truth of the story is that ASUU don't want to take corrections; they have chosen to remain obtuse. Or could this be a "psychological game" they're playing with FG in the expense of the poor and innocent masses?And that's why I mentioned that any damn fool can make it complex; it takes a genius to keep it simple. Now see, by way of definition, I understand that government is the body with the power to make and/or enforce laws to control a country, land area, people or organization. But in Nigeria, we have turned this definition upside down by becoming incessantly stubborn especially to our government.

I agree that our government lack's compassion. But ASUU on the other hand can be termed as being unnecessarily obtuse. My thought though. If ASUU portrayed as "pressure group", also called advocacy group, then they should influence public opinion or policy using a methodical approach.

Now see! The way ASUU is going about this, I can assure you that they're already causing enormous harm to the educational system they're trying to protect. Everything has limit, that's where wisdom comes in.

Listen: if ASUU truly portrayed a pressure group /advocacy group. Then their action's to influence public opinion or policy should be handled methodically, it shouldn't be to the detriment of the people they're trying to protect. It's not possible to have your cake and eat it too. Also know that there's a big difference between probability and possibility.

All things are possible but not all things are probable. By and large, all thing's been equal, even as the government seems to lack compassion; ASUU on the other hand need not to be obtuse. Someone may ask, what do you think they ought to have done to properly influence the public opinion? That's a good and thoughtful question. The first thing is that: ASUU should go about their agitation with humility and radical open​mindedness. This is because easy does it, they said.

To close, the need for ASUU to realign their demand cannot be overstressed. As a matter of fact and supreme urgency, ASUU should imbibe some divergent philosophies and strategic trajectories in solving this problem.

OUR NEXT MOVE

We're going to emphasize on these divergent philosophies and strategic trajectories in details. What I am saying exactly is that, ASUU as a pressure group are not applying divergent philosophies and strategic trajectories in their quest. In fact, their agitation is devoid of humility and radical open​mindedness. As a pressure group, they should not become outlaws, they're not supposed to contend with the government. No government can listen to any pressure group that rub shoulders with them.

FOR YOUR INFO

The word "pressure" here does not imply damage in the sense of cost or expense. On a serious note, it simply means constructive influence. But unfortunately, we have misinterpreted "pressure group" to mean exerting destructive influence. Ignorance is a plague, so let's get these things right, Stan added.

Now, having said all these, therefore, it's good for us to highlight the dynamics of the situation on ground as it's no more a question of WHOM TO BLAME. What we should be taking about now is WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? What is our fate both as a people (student), and as a union (ASUU)? These and more are some of the paramount questions that we should be addressing. Again, fundamentally speaking, it's highly essentially that we begin to address these questions before it gets us destroyed. I foresee the doom coming upon the educational sector, and I don't think we should allow it befall us with our eyes wildly open. Something must be done and that should be done fast, Stan said.- STAN UCHE

I has to hear about strike a s people have been giving me instances of it, but this time around I am experiencing it. This probably is the longest and worse strike in my entire life. I still wonder if a person can graduate in Nigerian school without experiencing a strike action.

The government seems not to care about us. They're only interested in campaigning for next year's election. I know they don't feel it like we do because none of their kids is studying in this country. Their children don't even live here and they all study abroad. That's a good one but what about the people that voted you to power? the poor masses that you promised a welfare when you come in power.

Things are really getting out of hand and I don't know what will become of our fate in this situation. So many students have made up their minds not to resume school anytime the school reopens again. It really sad to hear that but more and more keep happening.

Dear government, we need a change you promised us.bring back our education because I know you can and may we nit regret our own choice of being educated.

Thanks for reading.

@Gianna-B, 2022.

Lead image credit: Taken from unsplash.com