Total Shutdown of Varsities — Not Two Years Sacrifice — Isn’t Much to Resolve the Existing Disagreement Between Varsity Union and FG -By Abdulmumin Solihu

“We wouldn’t bow to the pressure of the Federal government to call off this ongoing strike, our demands must be met & we will fight to the very end. Two years isn’t too much for students to sacrifice. We beg Nigerian students to be patient, this struggle isn’t only for the present crop of students but also for the future ones.

Those are yet another word coming out from the mouth of the president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in a recent interview with BBC Pidgin amidst the protest by NLC across the country. Who’s to blame for this?

Anyways, this is not the time to hold anyone responsible for the problem but rather to face reality.

Since the conflict between the two parties had taken a new direction through exchange of words initiated by the FG’s “Enough is enough”, the strike action has apparently exceeded what the public are made to see.

It was firstly the government appealing to the union, then the union rejected the appeal; leading to the battle of words. Here we now have the president of the union appealing to the student. What a nation!

But is 2 years really enough to clear all the existing problems and agreements? The president of course is unaware of how long we are ready to wait if the outcome promises to be favorable.

Speaking with a long time friend of mine who school at FUTMINNA, he made an important point which I’d like to air to the public. After the long talk on how fucked up the system is and how tired of the strike he is, he said: “Had it been there’s a job waiting for us at the end of everything, then it’d have been worth the wait.”

If one VC won’t prioritize the academic calendar of a fucked up system above our mental health. If lectures won’t be scheduled for hours and extended to weekends to make up with the wasted days. Then, it’s going to be worth the wait.

If quality education promised would be delivered to us in a conducive and serene environment like those enjoyed by their children, then we’re ready to wait.

If at the end of the purported 2 years, everything would be resolved and there’s not going to be any future strike action, then why won’t we accept the sacrifice?

2 years and a decade is worth it, If online classes won’t replace the hands-on experience we should have as professionals in our respective fields.

Finally, it’s worth forever to wait if at the end of the academic pursuit, a job is waiting for each and everyone of us.

But… In which country? The giant that never was.

We solemnly hope that the protest and proposed strike by the NLC and other concerned bodies would yield a positive result. The supposed intervention of the senates and other well-meaning individuals should come out with a positive outcome.

We are to wait and sacrifice years for something that’s not even assured. What a failed system! Let it be known to the involved parties that we are ready to go as far as required and sacrifice as much year as demanded if quality education is assured at the end.

Disclaimer: This write-up is just an opinion of the author and doesn’t — in any way — represent the general opinion of all the affected students. It should also be noted that the author approaches the issue from a sarcastic perspective and not that he’s okay with the whole situation. It’s from a pained point of view.

You can reach out to the author through abdulmuminsolihu@gmail.com or +2349129720863 (WhatsApp)