The Perils And Opportunities Of Freedom: Letters to Dad 6

with my dad

Dear Dad,

I bring you greetings from this side of the world. How are you doing? How is the family and everyone?

The last time I wrote you a letter, I talked about the fast pace at which academic activities were going, but now, it's no longer same.

The learning process has been interrupted by ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) nationwide strike. A lot has happened recently and I seem to have lost count on some of these events.

We'll talk about ASUU and federal government, and the tragedy of Nigerian education. But before then, I paid elder sister visit during the semester break at Lagos. She and the husband are faring quite well. I spent a week with them and the feeling was ethereal. I consider her house, another home for me.

There's this goodnews about elder sis I would've loved to share with you. But I will let her make the announcement herself, I'm sure she'll do that perhaps when next she calls.

Back to ASUU, federal government and the tragedy of Nigerian educational system. I used to think that ASUU is selfish and heartless whenever they embarked on a strike during my undergrad days, but now I choose to also see the fault and imbalance from federal government.

ASUU has been on strike for the past one week. Consequently, this industrial labour action has put all academic activities on hold. We've been home, though we are still engaged with underground works, such as development of research topics and proposals.

Who is to be blame for our woes? Federal government or ASUU?

ASUU accuses federal government of failure on their part to keep up with their previous agreements. This has been the bone of contention and reason for the intermittent strike actions over the years.

This started from the 2009 agreement. The 2009 agreement is said to be the originating document where federal government agreed to pump in N1.3 trillion into the University education system.

This money was meant to focus on solving a lot of issues including; funding, conditions of service, revitalization of universities, payment of outstanding debts, academic freedom, university autonomy amongst other critical issues.

Nothing happened, until three years later. A panel was set up in 2012 to go round and inspect about 73 universities in the country and report back on the general state of these universities.

The report wasn't different from the usual ASUU complaints of no good standard laboratories, no conducive classrooms, dilapidated hostels, lack of portable running water, electricity challenges etc.

This however led to the signing of the 2013 MOU (Memorandum Of Understanding) between federal government and ASUU. In this MOU, federal government agreed to release N200 billion naira immediately for funding of universities, and then subsequently, release N220 billion naira yearly for the next five year, suming up to N1.3 trillion naira. But they've failed to keep to this.

The initial failure by federal government to execute 2009 agreement gave birth to the 2013 MOU which in turn brought about the 2017 MOA ( Memorandum Of Action). In all, federal government has failed to keep to these agreements.

I watched Channels TV recently and listened to the minister of education, Mr. Adamu Adamu plead ASUU to call off strike, lamenting about lack of funds by federal government to keep to these agreements, currently.

It's heartbreaking for me because the students suffer most. We suffer delay in our academic pursuit, and this usually results in elongation of our program duration than normal. There was a time we spent six (6) good months at home because of ASUU strike.

Also, this breeds idleness, especially for students who don't have other productive things to do in times like this. This can lead to engagement in negative vices.

Sometimes, I ask myself. How did we get to this sorry state in our educational system?

The primary and secondary school system in the country is already in a state of moribund. If the University system is not fix on time, it might end up likewise.

This treatment of ASUU by federal government goes on to show how reckless our leaders could be, towards treating sensitive issues. Our leaders break promises, pervert facts knowingly and do with so much dexterity sometimes.

I used to have hope that we'll atleast get it right with our educational system in this country. But this hope has been severely threatened recently. However, I'm confident that things will go well someday.

Dad, what do you think about ASUU/federal government face-off?

Do you think that ASUU is becoming selfish at the expense of students and parents?

Or do you think federal government should be held wholly accountable as regarding this?

How about other stakeholders? Do they have a role to play in this?

Thanks dad for your time, till I come your way again. Bye!