Anyone, who is conversant with the lingering strike in our public universities nationwide will sympathise with students who are caught in the fight between the federal government and university teachers.
But it is now clear that students understand government’s negligence towards the education sector probably because most of the top officials have their sons and daughters either studying abroad or in private institutions.
The government, that is supposed to do take concrete measures to avert or end the strike is showing lackadaisical attitude towards it. It is a pity that ASUU strike is not the topic of discussion today.
The government is more occupied with politics, especially how to win the next general elections than ensuring that students return to their classes. It’s unfortunate that the ASUU strike has become a secondary matter to the government in national affairs. It is indeed sad.
The dreams of public universities students have been shattered by the strike. The graduation period of millions of students have been extended.
It’s a well-known fact that it is now an impossible task for a public university student to graduate at the stipulated period allocated for his or her studies.
The victims (students) of ASUU strike have lost hope in learning and scholarship, they shift their focus from education to other life activities such as businesses and learning skills to build their lives since the government failed to save their future.
The NYSC camps are filled with HND students from universities abroad, students from private universities in Nigeria and students from affiliated universities (FCE/CEO/polytechnic graduates).
We only hope that given our closeness to the elections government may meet demands by the university lecturers so that INEC will meet its demand for ad hoc staff during the elections, which is normally done by corps members.
The (our) striking lectures are not the problem but the government. May Allah put an end to this strike menace, Amin.
Aliyu Idris can be reached via [email protected]
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