ASUU strike: Stop ruining our children’s future, parents warn FG

Parents have expressed concern over the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

On February 14, ASUU president, Emmanuel Victor Osodeke, had said the union resorted to strike following the Federal Government’s inability to meet the its demands.

• Drama As Suspected Killer Of UNIJOS Female Student Goes Dumb In Court
• BREAKING: ‘Many killed’ as explosion rocks Niger Community

The demands include the revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) promotion arrears, renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, and inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) payments.

Reacting to the development, a parent, Ahmad Amin, said that the strike had created a setback to his plan of having his only son help him after graduation.

“I am weak with age; my son would have graduated this year if not for the ASUU strike. Our hope is on this boy to help the family after graduation, but the hope has been dashed by this strike.

“His education was interrupted by COVID-19 lockdown last year and now strike. You can imagine the damage the strike has done to the family.”

Amin, who urged ASUU and the Federal Government to sit at the table, said the current situation is not favourable to the children of the poor.

Another parent, Mukhtar Nuhu, accused the Federal Government of ruining the future of their children.

She said, “For many years, ASUU’s strike has been frequent because of government’s negligence. This affects only the children of the poor. The rich and those in power send their children abroad where there is no interruption.”

Dandy Jackson Chukwudi said his cousin’s three-week vacation was extended because of the strike.

Chukwudi  said, “My cousin who studies at ABSU said her 3-week vacation has been extended to just 4 weeks. In her words: “One week strike ain’t that bad. I think this would affect mostly the 100L students.”

Abdurasheed Abubakar, also a student, said, “I’m speechless, most of our relatives they’re at home, because ASUU are on strike, Some of them they’re going to start exam, some Registration etc.”

We don’t know our fate  – students

Some students who to spoke to Daily Trust also expressed worries over the on-going warning strike.

A student, Sani M. Saleh, who would have graduated two years ago, said the strike has destroyed his plans.

Sani M. Saleh said, “I ought to have graduated 2 years ago, but due to this strike, which has been extended now. Is this how we will continue? While my schoolmates who were opportune to go abroad are about to finish their Master’s degree; look at our own condition.

“ASUU strike affects me in enormous ways, as a 400-level student who is in his last semester, it has destroyed my plans; it also increases my expenses and it’s a great threat to my business as well as opportunities of getting a decent job, as the issue of age barrier is still out there.”

Another student, Abdul S. Maiyaki, described ASUU strike as a disaster.

He said, “The strike altered everyone target, plan and etc. I urge the federal government to as a matter of urgency, reframe and amend all glitches affecting educational sector of this country. So sad. I’m a graduate, class of 2020 Cum-2021.”