Over the years ASUU has been a persistent canker worm in the Nigerian educational system. Infact, it is a phase every Nigerian student must come across at a point during their stay in the country tertiary institutions. ASUU strike has gradually become a non fading norm in the country coupled with the fact that it’s a house hold name that has left it’s print in the live and history of every successfully graduated Nigerian student.
For years the Academic Union staff of students’ popularly known and recognized as ASUU has received a lot of controversies from the government, students and the general public as well. A lot of questions have been raised and one of which is the most important among is the big “Who is to be blamed for the consistent annual strike actions?”
Now, if ASUU supposedly fights for the Nigerian student and the betterment of the Nigerian Educational system, is there no better way of attaining that? Must this good course be done in a negative way that detains students in school and leaving parents, guidance and students bothered about their future and their children’s future.
On the 12th November, 2020 the minister for Education in the country by name Mallam Adamu Adamu regretted the closure and continuous academic disruption caused by ASUU. In his speech he blamed the Government for this consistent strikes going on to blame them for making promises they knew they would never fulfil.
In his words, be opined “I believe while government was signing that agreement, they knew it was not possible for them to implement it. There is just nowhere N1.3trn will come out from. I think the basic problem between ASUU and the government has been what to do about this N1.3 trillion. If a government appends its signature to an agreement, it is an agreement,”
Also, a report made by the National ASUU President on 9th November, 2020 affirmed to the above statement. Biodun Ogunyemi said that the decision made by the federal government to lay lecturers through IPPIS would cause strike to longer on since the union wouldn’t buy into the IPPIS new system. He further stated that the strike action would kicked off as at 23rd March, this year would continue until the federal government pays a listening ear to their demands and meet them accordingly.
He further implored Nigerians to exercise more patient as the union was trying their possible best to see that an average citizen in Nigeria gets at least a moderate form of education. He went further to say that the union would complete and make use of UTAS which was developed by members of the union in place of the imposed IPPIS which was developed by the world bank. In his final words after the long speech, Biodun conclusively said “It is government that is prolonging the matter, not ASUU.”
In addition to this, the National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance (CAGG) whose name is Olusegun Bamgbose has equally given his own dose of finger pointing to not just the past Governments of Nigeria but to the recent dulling APC party.
He accused them of embezzling public funds wile neglecting the most important investment in the country. As was said on Monday, he expressed his disbelief in the long duration of the strike and wondered why the Government are yet to come to a palatable conclusion with the union. Amidst his well laid out speech in daily post, the most intriguing of them all was this statement “If elected as President, there won’t be any ASUU strike throughout my administration, I’ll expect the National Assembly to impeach me if there is any ASUU strike during my tenure as President,” the senior lawyer emphasised on the failed Administration of APC in the Educational sector urging Nigeria students to not give up yet.
