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Why We’re Angry With ASUU Over Schools’ Reopening–University Students
BY EUNICE AYOBAMI
Nigerian university students have given reasons why they are angry with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its opposition to schools’ resumption.
Recall that ASUU had taken an exception to the proposed re-opening after months of shutdown because of the corona virus pandemic, but in reacting, the students described the stance as myopic.
“The government should stop wasting our time”, Ewajane Oluwole, a 400level student of Biological Science, FUNAAB told The Eagle correspondent, adding:
“The saga of ASUU strike is beyond pretense, there are things that the government should have made available but due to one thing or the other, they couldn’t establish their agreement.
“The government of Nigeria seem really slow in confronting change and they lack trust. This issue has been in existence way back and the Union has been dazzled countless times.
“We students have not been carried along by the Union in the right manner, we suffer the aftermaths of every action between the government and the Union, which is very appalling.
Senami Segbenu Oluwatoyin, a 400 level student of Educational Management at the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo said the Union and the federal government have wasted her time.
Oluwatoyin stated that she is happy that her school is resuming soon , even though most of her colleagues are not ready to resume this year.
Omoyungbo Samuel, a 500level Crop rotation student in FUNAAB condemned the actions of ASUU, saying it had no interest of the students at heart but its own selfish interest.
“ASUU is our major problem in the education sector, as no amount of resources would be enough to settle them. They continue to ask for funds, whereas the ones available are not properly utilised.
“Even if they are going on strike, it should not be in a time like this where students have stayed at home for several months, they are now using us as a bait to get what they want.
“If the Educational sector of this country will be better, I think those guys called ASUU should be scrapped from the educational sector.
“If some private universities have the facilities ASUU have, they would have produced more universities. After the Union collects this money from the federal government, higher percentage of it goes to the Union pocket and not the students.
“They are just fighting for their pocket, not the student. Meanwhile, im not ready to resume”, Samuel said.
On contrary, Abel Kehinde, a 200 level student of Accounting at the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) appealed to the Federal Government to sort out the Union so that he could return to school.
Kehinde opined that students in their final year should be promoted, so that they could move on with their lives.
He however, urged the Federal government to release funds to tertiary institutions, so as to put in place all the necessaries to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in all schools.
“If online classes can be feasible for Federal Universities, they should start it and everyone will converge physically for exams, I am tired of staying at home”, Kehinde stressed.
Emmanuel Ezekiel O., a student of Management and Accounting in Obafemi Awolowo University penned his thought this way;
“Due to the fact that the student are in haste to resume school but we shouldn’t forget that ASUU comprises of people who are demanding for their rights.
“The truth is that the government should kindly meet the needs of the Union because if they don’t and school resumes, the union will put on another protest that will lead to another strike, which will affect everyone.
“So, it is better for the government to please give ears to ASUU and this delay should be halted or else student should be preparing for an upcoming strike’, he said.
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The Eagle reports that ASUU National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, had justified the union’s decision to go on strike last March over what he described as government’s insensitivity to university education.
Prof Ogunyemi explained that ASUU had signed MoU with the Federal Government on the need to improve facilities on the campuses, students’ welfare, promotion and welfare, which were ignored.
In fact, the opinion of the public is needed in this matter, because this is an issue of national importance.
Hassan
September 30, 2020 at 6:41 pm
Please ASUU you have to know that you are not doing the right thing for us and we can take and action if you didn’t do anything to help us
We the students are the world and we are going to take a serious note
Ayanwole Oluwaseyi
September 19, 2020 at 11:01 pm
AYANWOLE OLUWASEYI
PGD/20/PA/006
NIGERIA THE GIANT OF AFRICA?
Nigeria in presently at an unbearable state. waking up to sudden hike in electricity by more than 50% is from the fact that Nigeria has a clown look under Buhari’s administration, this increment took effect from 1 September. The inefficient electricity are to charge customers higher but gives less power supply making people who do not have a prepaid meter suffer more. Nigerians tend to spend more in the recent days due to a major blackout in the country the distribution companies claimed to be dealing with. During this period, people get fuel (also on the high side 151 per litre) so as to maintain the things they do with electricity.
why would one buy 5 litres of petrol for #800? when has Nigerian gotten to that sick-stricken stage? All these issues are being traced to the current administration which Nigerians believed will be a good ‘change’ as claimed in 2015, but it is making Nigerians bite their fingers in regret. Firstly the hike on food products in market, which transportation follows, the rise in dollar, an then electricity and fuel prices. This is really disheartening considering the current pandemic situation of the world. If you look around the world, there have been relief measures such as, suspension of utility bills, payment, tax reliefs, cash handouts and payroll support for businesses. Ghana’s government absorbed the cost of electricity for consumer during its lockdown period.
According to the ESI Africa, a trade journal as part of their covid-19 crisis response Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo, Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo have also offered free electricity to some segments of the population. South Africa’s Free Basic Electricity Scheme provides limited 50 Kwh free electricity per month to the poor and vulnerable households
As a giant of Africa which Nigeria claimed to be, but mostly act the opposite way, there is need to quickly resolve the energy sector crisis to facilitate freedom of action in taking economic decision that impact significantly on the people. One should enjoy what one is paying for, the Multi-year Tariff Order *(MYTO) was introduced to take care of different people but the frame work seems to have failed. As times goes, Nigerians should take the challenge at a private personal level, private individuals, corporate bodies and establishments should should produce power and sell. Many institutions are currently doing this which is appreciating. States should also take charge by generating power for their people, Nigerians should stop being enslaved asking people to pay more without enough electricity supply is a serious problem that legislators should reject or stop being a representative if not up to the task. Nigeria shouldn’t totally break before thinking of a solution. A word is enough for the wise.
NR. IBRAHIM B. TARAH
September 19, 2020 at 10:31 pm
Iam a 400level Nursing student FUBK but I don’t know what is wrong with my fellow students’ level of thinking and understandings.
Guys, mind you!!! All these struggles and hardships ASUU is encountering are for our (students) own betterment, I swear if ASUU doesn’t win this battle, an art student who is studying History or languages must pay a minimum of 350 thousands naira annually in public universities talk less of Science or Health Sciences students because with current government policy universities could no longer be able to pay for the: visiting, sabbatical, contract and external invigilators. meaning that, we the students must bear the consequences.
So,. I am urging the Nigeria university student to be absolutely patient and pray for our noble lecturers to meet and achieve these demands from the federal government.
Thank you.
NR. IBRAHIM B. TARAH
Oluwole
September 19, 2020 at 10:27 am
Brilliantly penned.. The government needs to listen. What ASUU is fighting for is not so absurd. Every leader has a prospect and Goal. The government has become a tyrant to the educational sector
Abdulkarm
September 19, 2020 at 9:40 am
ASUU is a very selfish union, All they are after is their pockets. They ve no student interest at heart.