ASUU – FG Drama: Can we tell the truth, to ourselves? -By Isma’il Alkasim

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today — Malcolm X

Unequivocally, educational sector requires critical and colossal funding from various stakeholders, be it civil society or a particular individual; not only the government. The intervention programs which are basically designed to address the critical challenges bedeviling the sector, contribute a greater percentage to the well—being of the educational sector.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recommended that, 20—25% of the countrys’ budget should be allocated to educational sector, to ensure the effectiveness of the sector.

Notwithstanding, Benjamin Franklin, asserted that, an investment in the education pays the best interest, this has been a rejoinder to the elites who had no clue that will guide them through, thereby, emanating a cohesive plan towards the educational reform.

A concert series of strikes, declared by the academic staff union of the universities in quotidian leave a deep scar in the memory of the students whose interest and ambitions were solely dependent upon their studies, and this, is a serious threat to the nation were insecurity and poverty looming its citizens. The ASUU and the government should understand the gravity of the tension this strike may accelerate.

Furthermore, the last industrial action in the year 2020 through 2021, which ASUU has spent almost a year striking, led to a gigantic imbroglio to university education, meanwhile, almost every universities were unable to fulfilled their academic calendar in a duly prescribed time, this strike, all inspite of a whole year spent due to the outbreak of the Covid—19 pandemic, but both of the parties; the government and ASUU had failed to get rid of the strike before the lift of lockdown, this has been an indicator which had shown how lackadaisical the government is, towards preventing the ASUU from embarking into an indefinite, elongated and pervasive strike.

Are We Really Serious?

Probably, not, we are not serious at all, if the government and ASUU can’t sit and share the same cup of tea to find the lasting solution about this horrendously, repulsive and awful strike, as a citizens of conscience can’t hold both parties accountable? Why can’t to come out enmass and protest against the lackadaisical of both the parties, it worked in an EndSARS protest, so we need to borrow and use the same language as the last resort.

The worst part of this ASUU—FG drama is, those at the center of the controversy do not value the Nigerias’ system of education, perhaps, their sons and daughters aren’t the victims of the elongated strikes, since they spent/spending their educational journey in the abroad; the great countries that has done everything possible to redefine and standardized their educational sectors.

The United Kingdom, for example, has spent at least 900 solid years revitalizing and meliorating their educational sector before it come to fruition and privatised the sector, this have indicated that, the suggestions and recommendations that were made bombarding the government of lugards’ amalgamation in 1914 to take a bold step towards commercializing the sector will not yield any positive result, but rather, a giant stride to uplift, breed and enhance corruption in the educational sector, moreso, privatising the sector is unbecoming, reason been, educational sector as system that is a babysitter which have weaned and breastfed every individuals in the Nigerias’ domain.

How it should be?

On a lighter note, we should embrace our ourselves collectively in the nation, as a whole entity, we shouldn’t lied to ourselves, there’s limit to what government can achieved within its capacity in reference, to the economic status, this deserves no clarification to any discerning individual but, that shouldn’t be an excuse to circumvent and leave our educational sector (not only universities) in the stage of mediocre, we must value the system to make progress.

The education we supposed as a nation to give our utmost priority is the basic education as the foundation ground and necessary stage for all citizens, because until we have resolved the odds vexing the UBE, the thirst of getting rid of the problems that has dominated the universities can’t be quenched, so in this juncture, the clamour of refine and redefine the universities system in Nigeria by ASUU is graceless and unbecoming, as soon as Basic Educational System is mess with dilapidated structure.

May Nigeria prosper.

Isma’il Alkasim writes from Garki, Jigawa State. He can reached via kogasgarki@gmail.com