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By 
10:36
The nationwide strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is exactly 107 days today with no sign of ending. Both the federal government and members of the Union are adamant despite several calls from different groups and individuals to bring an end to the protracted feud. Maryam Garba Hassan takes a look at the implications of the industrial action on some crucial aspects of the society.
The lingering dispute between the federal government and the members of the union of ASSU is not only threatening to fully ground the entire sector as some other unions are threatening to join the action that is already having its toll on the Nigerian students, communities and the almost collapsed sector.
Firstly, stakeholders, individuals, groups and even of recent the Senate President, David Mark, have been condemning products of the nation’s educational sector, calling them half- baked and unemployable graduates. With the present industrial action that has been on for 3 months, this notion most if not all Nigerians hold may soon become a reality.
Today, incessant industrial strikes in the academic sector have made many, if not all Nigerian universities to run arbitrary calendars that are not in consonance with the rhythmic symphony of their counterparts across Africa and Europe.
The country’s academic calendar is automatically being disrupted and therefore, the curriculum may not be covered before the beginning of the next school session.
As it is now, post UME is supposed to have commenced with admissions expected to be in its second stage or awaiting the release of supplementary lists while those graduating have finished their final examinations.
It is pertinent to note that the disruption of our universities’ calendar has made many of our good lecturers to continually find solace in plying their trade in universities in developed countries where they find suitable environment conducive for learning.
With what is happening in the education sector now, the nation may again witness another unfortunate phase of mass exodus of the very few remaining brains (lecturers) left in the system to other countries of the world in search of better alternative responsibilities where they will give their best.
However, in the event that the strike is called off and in order to finish the semesters’ lectures, lecturers may as usual rush students, which may counter- productive.
This also brings us back to the issue of Nigeria not meeting the Education For All (EFA) not even in the year 2020 as recently said by the UNESCO.
Secondly, the strike is already paralysing or greatly affecting the economy of the communities around the Universities as most of the habitants of such communities engage in petty trading within and around the Universities which some of them depend on to sustain their families.
The non- resolution of the dispute will no doubt affect the nation’s already dented image in the eyes of the international education communities who see our government as serious about one of the most important sectors in any antion aspiring to develop.
It would be recalled that in the history of Nigeria this is the first time the government is increasing the budgetary allocation of the sector from N400b to N426.53b this year, but despite that, stakeholders are of the opinion that the present administration is the most unserious government ever who only care about spending huge amount of money on the sector without having its interest at heart and at the same time implement policies that most often than not do not have relevance to the sector and the present school curriculum.
Thirdly, the ongoing industrial action will further degenerate the existing universities.
Another grave consequence of the on -going strike which also calls for the concern of all discerning Nigerians, parents and the university administrations, is the possibilities of some students engaging themselves in acts that are not in consonance with the teachings of the nation’s divine ideologies, cultures and traditions particularly now that the political situation in the country left much to be desired.
However, parents seeking sound education for their children and wards will seize this opportunity to send them to renowned private Universities at home and abroad.
This will however affect the country economically by devaluing our naira.
One major implication of the strike on the nation’s education system is the issue of brain drain syndrome and the inability of poor parents to send their intelligent and prospective children to good schools which possess danger to the nation.
The demoralising effects of the elongations of the school year caused by strikes that has been identify with the nation’s educational sector over the years, for many students have caused many students the difficulty of projecting into their future with hope and confidence.
The core issue we should be looking at is the damages the Union’s action and government’s inability to resolve the issue has already done to the sector.
Every Nigerian will want to see things corrected in the sector. There is no way the Federal Government will think by giving 100bn to Universities as recommended by the Presidential Committee on Universities’ Need Assessment which was not implemented until the industrial action commenced, will solve the problems of the educational sector without paying attention to the demand of the lectures. Although many think that the demand of the Nigerian lecturers is unrealistic even as it was part of the agreement entered into between the government and the union.
The federal government has also consistently said the demand of the lecturers is unrealistic.
Recently, at a function, Supervising Minister for Education, Ezenwo Eyesom Wike, pleaded with the union to understand that the federal government cannot meet their demand of 92 million, saying that the federal government had already met about 80 per cent of the ASUU demand.
The present government has been reiterating its commitment towards correcting ills in the sector by bringing in policies some of which are good, particularly if they are sustained. But the correction must begin by addressing the exact needs of the sector across the country, if not; we will only be scratching the surface while the real problems get more deeply rotten. And it might take us more years of pains and funds to redress our wrongs.
There is need for all stakeholders in the country to participate in any way to reach ideal, rational and realistic consensus with the union on how to end the strike, move the educational sector forward and sustainably.
Firstly, stakeholders, individuals, groups and even of recent the Senate President, David Mark, have been condemning products of the nation’s educational sector, calling them half- baked and unemployable graduates. With the present industrial action that has been on for 3 months, this notion most if not all Nigerians hold may soon become a reality.
Today, incessant industrial strikes in the academic sector have made many, if not all Nigerian universities to run arbitrary calendars that are not in consonance with the rhythmic symphony of their counterparts across Africa and Europe.
The country’s academic calendar is automatically being disrupted and therefore, the curriculum may not be covered before the beginning of the next school session.
As it is now, post UME is supposed to have commenced with admissions expected to be in its second stage or awaiting the release of supplementary lists while those graduating have finished their final examinations.
It is pertinent to note that the disruption of our universities’ calendar has made many of our good lecturers to continually find solace in plying their trade in universities in developed countries where they find suitable environment conducive for learning.
With what is happening in the education sector now, the nation may again witness another unfortunate phase of mass exodus of the very few remaining brains (lecturers) left in the system to other countries of the world in search of better alternative responsibilities where they will give their best.
However, in the event that the strike is called off and in order to finish the semesters’ lectures, lecturers may as usual rush students, which may counter- productive.
This also brings us back to the issue of Nigeria not meeting the Education For All (EFA) not even in the year 2020 as recently said by the UNESCO.
Secondly, the strike is already paralysing or greatly affecting the economy of the communities around the Universities as most of the habitants of such communities engage in petty trading within and around the Universities which some of them depend on to sustain their families.
The non- resolution of the dispute will no doubt affect the nation’s already dented image in the eyes of the international education communities who see our government as serious about one of the most important sectors in any antion aspiring to develop.
It would be recalled that in the history of Nigeria this is the first time the government is increasing the budgetary allocation of the sector from N400b to N426.53b this year, but despite that, stakeholders are of the opinion that the present administration is the most unserious government ever who only care about spending huge amount of money on the sector without having its interest at heart and at the same time implement policies that most often than not do not have relevance to the sector and the present school curriculum.
Thirdly, the ongoing industrial action will further degenerate the existing universities.
Another grave consequence of the on -going strike which also calls for the concern of all discerning Nigerians, parents and the university administrations, is the possibilities of some students engaging themselves in acts that are not in consonance with the teachings of the nation’s divine ideologies, cultures and traditions particularly now that the political situation in the country left much to be desired.
However, parents seeking sound education for their children and wards will seize this opportunity to send them to renowned private Universities at home and abroad.
This will however affect the country economically by devaluing our naira.
One major implication of the strike on the nation’s education system is the issue of brain drain syndrome and the inability of poor parents to send their intelligent and prospective children to good schools which possess danger to the nation.
The demoralising effects of the elongations of the school year caused by strikes that has been identify with the nation’s educational sector over the years, for many students have caused many students the difficulty of projecting into their future with hope and confidence.
The core issue we should be looking at is the damages the Union’s action and government’s inability to resolve the issue has already done to the sector.
Every Nigerian will want to see things corrected in the sector. There is no way the Federal Government will think by giving 100bn to Universities as recommended by the Presidential Committee on Universities’ Need Assessment which was not implemented until the industrial action commenced, will solve the problems of the educational sector without paying attention to the demand of the lectures. Although many think that the demand of the Nigerian lecturers is unrealistic even as it was part of the agreement entered into between the government and the union.
The federal government has also consistently said the demand of the lecturers is unrealistic.
Recently, at a function, Supervising Minister for Education, Ezenwo Eyesom Wike, pleaded with the union to understand that the federal government cannot meet their demand of 92 million, saying that the federal government had already met about 80 per cent of the ASUU demand.
The present government has been reiterating its commitment towards correcting ills in the sector by bringing in policies some of which are good, particularly if they are sustained. But the correction must begin by addressing the exact needs of the sector across the country, if not; we will only be scratching the surface while the real problems get more deeply rotten. And it might take us more years of pains and funds to redress our wrongs.
There is need for all stakeholders in the country to participate in any way to reach ideal, rational and realistic consensus with the union on how to end the strike, move the educational sector forward and sustainably.
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