FG, ASUU still locked in game of wits

THE education sector of this country to many has become the shadow of itself as the system has continued to loose its 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 future 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 themselves in all manner of ills like prostitution, armed robbery, internet fraud and so on.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the federal government to show concrete evidence of commitment to agreement on meeting it’s demands on its on-going 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 offers 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 lecturerers who embarked on strike on November 5, 2018.
ASUU Chairman, Ibadan Chapter, Deji Omole, recently said the 2019 elections would not stop it’s struggle to revitalise 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 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 youths 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 10 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 (NANS), accusing them of improper representation.
He wrote, “NANS don’t speak for Nigerian students. A student is a person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education. As such, we expect NANS 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 positions. ”
Chinenye Nelson, 500 Level student of Medical/Surgury, UNN, also posted on her Twitter page, ” Why are the majority of NANS exco not in school. Some of these people are not students. 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 in their pockets.
A student of NnamdiAzikiwe University (UNIZIK) , who wants to remain anonymous added, ” The situation in NANS is just the same as Nigerian politics. After two terms, you proceed to the Senate as retirement compensation. Some will just obtain post graduate form just to be eligible for membership.
“Nigerians never run out of tricks. NANS has become a political group with ‘anywhere belle face’ mentality. It has outlived its 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 NANS exco are actually post graduate students and most of the people vying for positions are post graduate students.
It would be recalled that at the beginning of the year, NANS exco met with president MuhammaduBuhari with the mission of soliciting for the FG and ASUU to come together and end the strike