Except you studied or is studying in a private university in Nigeria, there's no guarantee of a hitch free or smooth academic tenure of a student in Nigeria. Ranging from internal strikes to strikes because of Asuu. Many four years course are being studied for more than five years in Nigeria universities owning to incessant strikes. Only students who scale more smoothly in schools are the ones in the private institutions. Public universities in Nigeria are nothing to write home about.
Do we need Asuu at all? This is the question I was deliberating on as a student. Meanwhile Asuu has been on industrial strike since God knows when. They keep saying they are fighting for the interests of Nigeria students which is of course a lie from hell. They keep fighting for their selfish interests and their pockets. Asuu is nothing but a hindrance to the smooth educational system in this country.
Federal Government sometimes ago asked all the lecturers to register under the platform called IPPIS(Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System) which will help in enabling transparency in paying staffs and to discourage mediocrity. The platform aimed at detecting some lecturers who are receiving double salaries and those working in more than one institutions. The development by the government was welcomed with a lot of criticisms and many universities show their disinterest in it. For more than five months now in this year, Asuu has embarked on industrial strike which of course has had a negative toll on students nationwide. Now with this matter still at its inconclusive stage, I can't but imagine the future of students in this country. What will be our fate?
Incessant industrial strikes have made many students lose their opportunity of serving after graduation. In Nigeria, Graduates from Universities and from polytechnics are always mandated to serve their father's land(Nigeria) for 12 months. It's called NYSC(National Youth Service Corps). A graduate who as a result of age barrier or other reasons was unable to pass through NYSC will have difficulty in securing government jobs in Nigeria except he or she is a child of a politician who can unscrupulously maneuver their ways to the top. But for an average graduate with no connections anywhere, it's always hard being employed talk less of not serving.
Now with the pandemic and strike combined, almost one academic year have been wasted which can't be recovered. Some students who are in their final year before the strike has been delayed now and no hope of resuming soon, they keep aging at home. Many will reach the age limit of 30 years of age whereby they won't be allowed to serve again. Many that are supposed to graduate and go for their NYSC this year can't do that again since some of them clocked 30 this year. Now you asked whose fault, theirs or the Federal Government and Asuu?.
Agitation is not been made on how to improve the educational system in the country, how to meet with the world standards. All what our dear Asuu is agitating for is money and only money alone. You go to some of the public institutions today, basic academic infrastructures and facilities that aids learning are so mundane and lacks good qualities. Check out the academic theatres and lectures hall, their capacity is not enough to contain students. Some will have to sit on the floor to receive lectures from the lecturers. No tangible provisions was made to curtail this. Federal Government and Asuu decides to look the other way. Indeed it's always difficult for the children of the masses in Nigeria. Most of this shortcomings are not in private universities, only in public universities. Most students would have preferred to study in private universities but they lack the financial capacity. Even to study in a public university is an impossible dream for some people because of money factor.
The strike nevertheless has provided me the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and skills in some specific areas though it can't be said for all students. Many have simply be unlucky during this lockdown. Thanks to read.cash for helping me to know more about cryptos like Bitcoin cash. I have also met with important people who have really added value to me both on the internet and real life. Till we resume back to school, we keep moving and never giving up. Hope the duo finished their palaver and let us resume back to school.
Asuu stands for Academic staff union of universities
the nigerian educational system is messed up big time. and it'll need serious cleansing.