Federal Government has failed to salvage education sector -By Yusuf Salisu Muhammad

It’s a discombobulating incident to Nigerians that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike has been persistent for decades. It firstly started in 90s. During Obasanjo’s regime, ASUU went on firmly with its struggles and opted strike as a major weapon, hitherto strikes have been  reoccurring like celebrated festivals; it’s hardly to end an academic session without ASUU embarking on a single strike. If the history of the ASUU strike will be conned, it will elaborate that it was a lax element since military regime and thus one may not be unjust to say, the requisites actions were not taken even in the past, had they, we wouldn’t have been experiencing it now. 

Today, under Buhari’s administration which even a layman thought would enjoy as far as it comes into power; students have been toiling from the repercussions of the conflicts between the FG and ASUU. On Monday 14th February 2022,the union declared its first one month warning strike, and then added two months, after which they extended the strike by three months. If I may ask an unanswerable question, I would say, even in Africa, if not in Nigeria, where can universities be shut down for almost more than six months, and the government seems not to care?, but if answer is to be given, it might be: no serious   administration will “take no notice of” its country’s education sector.

 However, thanks to the I don’t care attitude of the government. 

The main ASUU’s demands now_ as declared by the union_ are: ensuring the acceptance of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) and also fulfill the ASUU/FG’s signed agreement of 2009, which can all be implemented if the FG’s effort is genuine in getting rid of the “cog in the wheel” of  the future of the Nigerian Youths. Therefore, the FG’s refusal to Implement the aforesaid ASUU’s demands is simply  “adding salt to the wound” of  the education sector. 

On the other hands, the demanded money by ASUU for revitalising the sector can be disbursed as far as the FG treats the issue seriously considering what it spent on some sectors that comparing to the education sector _can be called irrelevant or misplacement of priorities.

For instance; on  24th November 2021,Punch disclosed that “the minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba said FG spent more than 2.3 trillion as a stimulus for covid19.”  If the FG can spent more than 2trillion merely on covid19’s stimulus, the pandemic that its existence is not more than 3 years in the world, with an existence of not more than 2 years in Nigeria_,  why can’t at least spend 1trillion on the education sector for ensuring its activation, and ending the ASUU strike that has been in existence for almost more than twenty years, the same union strike which the current president and his minster of education were criticizing the last administration on?

 In addition, Vanguard News reported on may 15,2022 that the “Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) sues Buhari for spending  N1.48 trillion on maintaining refineries with no crude oil”.  If more than 1 trillion can be unfruitfully spent on reviving defunct refineries why can’t 500 billion  be disbursed to ASUU for revitalizing the education sector?.

Additionally, Punch  reported on 22 February 2022 that: “FG to spend 3.53 trillion on infrastructure and human capital development in 2022”. This was amidst the ASUU strike, which is yet to be called off, if 2.53 trillion will be spend on infrastructure, why  can’t 1 trillion  be allocated to the education sector for its rescuing or is there any infrastructure that can be enjoyable without qualitative education?. I believe commoners would rather to have education than any other infrastructure, and also  that providing sound knowledge is the best way of developing not only human or his capital but also his country. 

Based on Daily Post analysis on October 15, 2021,” about 12trillion has been allocated to the security sector in the past 7 budget under  president Buhari”. Based on this analysis the increment of the spending for the sector in  the administration is whooping 15 percent of the country’s budget. If this can be done in an attempt to tackle the insecurity we yet suffer from, despite the relevance of security in any country, why can’t  the same attempt be done for the education sector even once?. These are few examples. One may argue that all the aforementioned spending were already budgeted and also the education sector has its own budget, yeah!, but is he aware that the sector’s budget is paltry?

Premium  Times Nigeria on October 27,2021 stated that ” since taking office, president Buhari’s highest allocation to the education sector is 7.9 percent of the total budget”.  Meanwhile, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommended 15_20percent  of any developing country’s budget  for the sector. 

The FG should be alerted that this persistent strike is affecting not only students, their parents, and lectures but also the economy of the country as many small scale and medium enterprises depend on the campuses, howbeit, It’s indeed condemnable that ASUU’s demands have not been attended to. 

Moreover, It will shock any Nigerian of good will to hear  the claim that the president was unaware concerning the ASUU strike till when he was notified during his Sallah’s break in his home town, ah!, kudos to Nigeria, my father land, where universities could be shut down and academic staffs’ salaries stopped for months and yet unawareness can be claimed for the president ! . Strike for months with stopping of the workers’ salaries, but the president was unaware !?.Only this can prove the FG’s failure in salvaging the education sector.

In addition to the points, Nigeria, with 10.5 million  out of school children topped the list  in the world ,as declared by the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), Daily Trust on Monday, 24th January reported. Furthermore, the FG’s budget allocation to the sector is yet to reach the UNESCO’s recommendation, while looting allegations on government officials are not unknowable, similarly, ASUU’s demands are neglected. 

In conclusion, I urge the government to move with rapid efforts in overcoming the hindrances in the education sector. May God uphold our Glory.