I always wonder when I hear parents and students blaming any academic union in Nigeria that embarks on strike for the sake of their rights, their students and the education sector. Gains in the education sector were largely achieved because of the academic unions; because our politicians have little time for our universities.
Visit any public primary or secondary school close to you and see its condition. Even if it is attractive in its structures, you will surely find its inside very squalid and irritating with broken chairs few teaching materials and an unconducive atmosphere. Then visit any tertiary institution, I bet you that it is choked with students but few teachers.
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The struggles of the academic staff of tertiary institutions are blessings to the growth of Nigerian education and if we fail to support them and appreciate them, Nigerian higher institutions will become like the ravaged primary schools close to us.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), through its struggle, has supported and gotten many things for the Nigerian students. The establishment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) resulted to the continuous establishment of laboratory, theatres, libraries, workshops, hostels and classes. Also, ASUU has been supporting students on their struggles against tuition fees hike.
ASUU strike is always in favour of Nigerian education. The lecturers fight for their rights to make education viable and standard and to stop sending Nigerian children outside the country to study.
Do Nigerian students want to continue seeing their lecturers living in beggarly conditions while their schools turned to the condition of primary public schools or will they support their lecturers’ living condition and their schools’ progress?
After suspending its almost nine-month-old strike in 2020, ASUU embarked on the present strike because the federal government failed to fully implement the Memorandum of Action it signed with the union in December 2020.
Nigerian students should be happy that they have vibrant comrades that are fighting for their rights and supporting their education. ASUU only wants Nigeria to be better and eradicate corruption in Nigerian universities.
Nigerian students should be able to figure out those who work for them and those who work for their selfish ends. ASUU should be supported in its quest to ensure that education does not suffer and crumble.
Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Mass Communication Department, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna
