by : ifeanyi Okonkwo
The education sector of this country to many has become the shadow of itself as the system has continue to loose it salt.
The Academic Staff Union (ASUU) and Federal Government have continue to lock horns over several issues with many Nigerians calling on both parties to consider the feature of students and place that above other interests by resolving the dispute because when two elephant fight, the grass suffers
Constant strike by the union for years have become a menace to not only students but to the society as students stay longer than expected in school and most times when students are on strike, some of the students engage their self's in all manner of ills like prostitution, armed robbery, internet frud and so on.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has urged the Federal Government FG to show concrete evidence of commitment to agreement on meeting it's demands on its ongoing strike.
Biodun Ogunyemi ASUU president said in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria NAN in Abuja that the union would communicate it's decision on offears made by government.
Mr. Ogunyemi, a professor, said contrary to some media reports, the union did not reject the offer made by FG or make fresh demands.
"If government could give us one of the five tranches on the revitalization fund, it would be kind of bending backwards in the interest of students and national interest.
The minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, after meeting with the union on January 4 said government was about resolving the dispute with the lecture who embarked on strive on November 5, 2018
ASUU chairman Ibadan chapter Deji Omole recently said the 2019 elections will not stop it's struggle to rexitalise public versities in the country vowing that ASUU will fight to pursue the ongoing strike to a logical conclusion
"ASUU is not part of INEC and that the electoral commission can look else where for ad-hoc staff to conduct the election. We are ready to pursue the ongoing strike to a logical conclusion irrespective of weather there would be general election or not."
Many are of the opinion that ASUU should consider the future of millions of youth in the country who have there hopes hanged.
Many have also kicked against the reasons of both parties for the ongoing strike.
Mr. David Cloe a concerned citizen while speaking on the subject matter said " Since when did ASUU start pursuing their course to a logical conclusion. Both ASUU and FG care less about students welfare. They don't have kids in Nigeria Universities. There children study abroad and if schools are closed for Ten years, they don't bother. "
Charlse Odoko a student from the department of Economics University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in his facebook page criticised National Association of Nigerian Students (NAN) accusing them of improper representation.
He wrote "NAN don't speak for Nigeria students. A student is a person who is studying at a University or other place of higher education. As such, we expect NAN leadership to come from students currently studying but what we have are people who delay going for the compulsory National youth service to as much as five years in other to occupy such position. "
Chinenye Nelson 500 Level student of medical/Surgury UNN also post on her Twitter page " Why are the majority of NAN exco not in school. Some of these people are not student. Who gave them the authority to speak for students. Can a labourer negotiate wages for a banker? When last did they meet with ASUU to chart a way forward concerning the strike. They are only interested in meeting with the FG. They should stop representing students because they are only interested for their pockets.
A student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (unizik) who wants to remain anonymous added " The situation in NAN is just the same as Nigeria politics. After two terms, you proceed to the Senate as a retirement compensation. Some will just obtain post graduate from just to be eligible for membership.
"Nigerians never run out of tricks. NAN has become a political group with anywhere belle face mentality. It has outlived it's usefulness. We will create a thread on Twitter with a hashtag for the thread to trend. "
On the contrary Stephen Obi a graduate from Madona University said majority of NAN exco are actually post graduate student and most of the people vying for positions are post graduate students
It would be recalled that at the beginning of the year, NAN exco meet with president Muhammadu Buhari with the mission of soliciting for the FG and ASUU to come together and end the strike
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