ASUU STRIKE VIS A VIS THE ENDANGERING OF NIGERIA'S TOMORROW

Nigeria is undoubtedly one of the prominent African countries known for its vastness in land mass and population.The fact of our 53 year old country being abundantly blessed and replete with natural resources cannot be overemphasized.Despite the myriad of sectors existing in it that are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring its continuous existence and progress,one sector in the many has regrettably not lived up to expectation;the education sector.

 It is no more news that University education in our dear nation,Nigeria,is in an abysmal and egregious state that could inevitably make any passerby who look at it shake his or her head in pity.Strike has sadly become a modus vivendi for universities as seen in the incessant interruption in the academic programmes of students.

This is a habitual event profoundly abhored by students.For close to 4 months now,undergraduates have been out of school.Why? A curious mind would ask.The federal government and ASUU,both of which happen to be key players in university education,haven't been on the same page as seen in the controversy encircling that which is due to ASUU.The corollary emanating from the disagreement,strike,has unarguably been devastating to students,who contingently happen to be the grass suffering while the two elephants fight.

To the average undergraduate,it is as if his or her life has been paused as in a movie.Students,who are mostly youths,have from time immemorial been referred to as the leaders of tomorrow by all,government inclusive,but little or nothing is being done to forge them into strong weapons that will judiciously steer the nation into the promised land abound with peace,stability,progress and all round development.Evidently,the intended has not been the case.Unfortunately,they(students) are being formed into veritable killers of tomorrow that will be devoid of sufficient knowledge to skyrocket our dear country to its deserved altitude.The never-stopping strikes and current strike,which is bedevilling university education in Nigeria points clearly to these prophesy with unreserved certainty.The most infuriating part is the disdainful nonchallance and indifference which our beloved government,that we stood under the sun for hours to vote into power and ensure their present existence,has shown towards the quagmire.

Apparently,the operators of the Nigerian engine go ahead using the engine regardless of whether oil(students/the future) is in it or not.It is only a matter of time before the engine breaks down.The Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) hasn't helped matters either,as they have instigated the strike based on the mendacious ground of students betterment while really,it is geared towards assuaging their egocentric interests and desires.What a union! Our so-called leaders bask in the euphoria of their dolce vita,extravagant lifestyles and the thought of their children studying abroad without encumbrances while Nigerian students,whose parents may have little or no money to afford private or overseas university education,cry,moan,groan and pitifully call out for clemency and reconsideration on the side of the warring parties.All these pleads seem to have fallen on deaf ears. In conclusion,this medium is apt to make a clarion call to our fathers and mothers in government,and ASUU to put an end to this overdue strike that has inflicted wounds on Nigerian students that will take time to heal.Perhaps,by doing so and annihilating strike totally,the prophesy in the foregoing(soaked up in despair and perennial suffering) could be averted.

Written by: Comr.Kelechi Naze,a 300 level Philosophy student of Imo State University Owerri(IMSU).