In every sane and civilized society globally, education is the key to national development. It remains buttressed as the government's responsibility and one of its main expenditures priorities. However, in Nigeria, there is a sense of uncertainty as to what lies ahead in a country that has stunted the educational achievement of many students, especially in government-owned universities. This educational sector has witnessed more strikes than strides for more than a decade. The government's estimated allocation continues to dwindle and falls below ASUU and many stakeholders' expectations.
Although, ASUU's stamped feet have led to the involvement of bodies like the Tertiary education trust fund (TETFUND), intervening in worthy scholarship, building more infrastructure, and funded research. It is disheartening and appalling that the stipulated four years course has been unduly prolonged due to self-interested decisions taken by both ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
However, government have paid deaf ears to their demands. Among other things, the mandated orders stated by ASUU are clear and simple, which is to revive Nigeria's education system. In its quest for visibility and achievability, it has directed the government to revitalize government-owned universities, promotion arrears, and replacement of government proposed integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS) with ASUU acclaimed University Transparency and Accountability Solutions UTA's for payment of its members' salaries. While this might sound laudable for any country to grow, strengthen and equip its human resources, Nigeria's government seems to be sailing towards this issue.
Why should ASUU and government hold an education system at a stand-still besides the decaying the government-owned universities faced during the pandemic that completely disrupted academic programs they are yet to recover from. Look at other African countries like Ghana and South African domestic priority for education. Nigeria's better shine your eye; a government that prides itself on once being a giant of Africa in the past with nothing to show for in the future is a scam. Any government that seeks to be callous in seeking students' interests that constitute Nigeria's should be shown the way out.
What was the government thinking when it relinquished its power of pen and signature to sign an agreement when they knew they were incapacitated to deliver promptly? Where is the lie? In a statement, Prof Osodeko grunted, "I hope the Nigerian people will fight back and not leave it to ASUU''. I ask where ASUU's integrity was when many students and parents suffered fee hikes. I cried for this system in 2020 when I heard UNIBEN shut down academic sessions for a so-called sports activity. Their agitation for valuing education by shutting down academic sessions two (2) times for sports activity was outrightly uncalled for. ASUU's egregious problem is Albert Einstein lauded line: "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome" ASUU, in all its wisdom, should be wise by now. For how long will striking be a wielding alternative consecutively to marshal out their demands. Must ASUU wait on the government to meet every bit of its demands before school resumption, to show its superiority and interest in education at the detriment of students' compulsory stay-at-home approach?
Despite the ongoing ASUU strike, student protests and Nigeria's deteriorating educational system, the State Honorable Minister of Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba, has declared his interest as a candidate for the presidency under the APC flag in the upcoming presidential election. Speaking to a student currently counting Day 73 of the ASUU strike, he chastised the Minister for his misdirected priorities and self-serving agenda. "How can you trust a Minister who can't fight for Education with Nigeria's security challenges?" another added.
If we do not articulate the vision of education in Nigeria, then subsequent strikes will cripple academic activities in the state and counter major thrives obtainable in other development goals. The prolonged negligence of addressing the current vulnerable state of education will incur higher costs later. The cost will be felt in terms of frustrated youths, wasted potential and reduced productivity. A government that fails to invest in its human capital will increase the level of criminal activities, reduce human capital to grow the economy, and create a low standard of living.
Who benefits from the strike, you may ask, the government in delaying the growth of the bedrock of any society, The ASUU executives as strutter visionaries who failed to seek the interest of the students they claim to be fighting for, and The Ministry of Education who is tired of fighting for the education system in Nigeria, and will instead fight to be Nigeria's President
.