Is ASUU pursuing a public interest and students’ welfare?

As a student, I write this piece to expose the realities of academics in Nigeria. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may have become the enemy of the Nigerian state. Why and how? You may ask. Permit me to begin with the answer “the why”. ASUU prides itself on being the most educated, knowledgeable set of Nigerians. This is not true. 

The reason is that ASUU ignorantly persecutes Nigerians, especially students who are lost in the ecstasy against the Nigerian state. They have abdicated their role of clamouring for members’ welfare and have constituted themselves into a quasi-political party and self-made opposition to any government in power.

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I pity FGN because ASUU will recommend to FGN through NUC that all is well and, in most cases, excellent and the same ASUU is fighting FGN through the presidency and Ministry of Labour that everything is in total collapse. Many might be wondering who then is the problem, FGN or ASUU? 

Who prepares the university for accreditation or resource verification? ASUU. Who are the phony resource persons particularly in private universities? ASUU members. Who conducts the accreditation or resource verification? ASUU. Who affirms that our universities and their programmes are particularly in good form? ASUU. Who awards the degrees? ASUU members! Who is boldly saying that our university system is dilapidated and substandard? still is ASUU! 

I affirm that NUC makes use of ASUU members to perform virtually all their tasks of maintaining standards in Nigerian universities. I may be accused of NUC sponsorship. I finally want the general public to be our judge by putting ASUU and FG on the scale to see who is at fault. FG is willing to cooperate but insatiable demands forwarded by ASUU are the obstacle delaying resolution of the issues.

Patience Gaius writes via [email protected]