There is nothing wrong in Nigeria that
cannot be corrected with something right in
Nigeria.
This article is based mainly to analyse
the role of education in the growth of
Nigeria’s economy,there has been a decay
in the Nigeria educational system as there
has always been a continuous rivalry
between the federal government(political
system) and ASUU(pressure group)
This article is not to praise or applaud
either parties but to bring to the public the
good,the bad,the ugly and the beautiful of
Nigeria’s educational system and to take a
look at the way forward.
It is important to bring to your notice
that section 18(1)of the 1999 constitution
of Nigeria provides that Government shall
direct its policy towards ensuring that there
are equal and adequate educational
opportunities at all levels. section 18(3)
Government shall strive to eradicate
illiteracy and to this end Government shall
as and when practicable provide(c)free
university education.
However this so wonderful provision of
the constitution is non justiciable(section
6(6)(c) 1999 constitution) and therefore
cannot be enforced by
an action in court. In other words, the
government was
just thinking aloud when it included the
provision!,Therefore it is at the mercy of
the FG to provide any of
these necessities, and they cannot be held
liable if they
fail to provide them. The Government has
been very
lackadaisical as regards the provisions of
section 18 of
the constitution, as a result, education is
now taken as a second hand affair,forgetting
the fact that enhancing human resources is
far more important and better than even the
so called natural resources. recourse should
be made to japan or china whose economy
is a force to be reckoned with in the world
because of their level of human resources,
the percentage of funds from the federal
revenue allocated to education is so
minimal as compared to other nations of the
world. How can Nigeria be the giant of
Africa when education cannot be adequately
provided for rather our leaders jump into
unnecessary issues eg the senate wanting
to enact into law child marriage. Is it that
our leaders are not wise enough to know
what ought to be done? Even the bible
provides that woe to any Nation whose
leadership is a child.
Now to the other side of the coin which is
ASUU(Academic staff union of universities)
before I go into the issue of ASUU stricto
sensu, I shall briefly give an hilarious
story.”A white man came to Nigeria and
asked a student what is the meaning of
ASUU, the student humbly replied by saying
ASUU is a festival celebrated in Nigeria
where students don’t go to school”.
ASUU as we all know is a union group
whose main aim is to fight for the interest
of its members,the purpose of this body is
to serve as an intermediary between the FG
and lecturers of their member university for
the good of fostering healthy educational
system.
The most important weapon a union
group uses in fighting for their interest is
strike,this is something that is synonymous
to ASUU. This weapon called strike has its
own advantages and disadvantages,
advantage towards the lecturers because it
helps them get what they want and
disadvantage towards the students because
it makes our stay in the university longer
than anticipated, a four year course turns
into five year course because of the
persistent break encountered due to
numerous ASUU strike. It has now turned
into a normal routine that ASUU must go on
strike at every two years interval since
2009,later on in 2011 and now 2013, so how
are we sure that they won’t go on strike
again in 2015,well I will be out of the
university before 2015, the feeling of
experiencing two long ASUU strike in 2011
and 2013 is not something to be proud of. It
is so amazing to know that the striking
parties will still get paid for the elapsed
months due to the strike,thus getting paid
for services not rendered. Due to this
unending state of affairs students are now
vulnerable to anti-social activities for it is
written that an idle mind is the devils
workshop.
It is barely four days to september and a
month to october yet my friends who are in
their final year,faculty of law in the
university of calabar are all at home, their
dreams of making law school this october is
gradually going down the drain, I weep
everyday in my heart knowing fully well that
if they don’t move, I too will not be able to
move to the next level.
So many questions running through my
mind now, what is the bone of contention
between ASUU and FG? Is ASUU having also
the interest of the students at heart in this
struggle? The Nigeria students are suo moto
involved in this struggle, for anything that
will not benefit the interest of the students
is nothing,according to ASUU the issue on
ground is for the full implementation of the
2009 agreement between both parties.
Firstly,improved working condition, which
entails infrastructural rehabilitation, briefly
put this will also improve fast and
comfortable learning condition for students.
Finally increment of their salary, it seems
like
our lecturers no longer want their rewards
in heaven.
Who can blame them? After all, narrow is
the gate… one thing is sure that increment
can only be available to deserving hands,
have they been fulfilling their obligation of
appearing in class regularly? Do they want
money for a job not adequately rendered? A
man that takes the glory for a job not done
is a sinner in the sight of God.
Why will ASUU fight for their pocket
alone forgetting that students are supposed
to be entitled to remuneration also no
matter how minimal it might be. What
makes a university? Simply put the lecturers
and students, if they get paid for impacting
knowledge into us, I see no reason why we
also should not get a little allowance for
helping them grow in their area of
specialisation,for without us there will be
no them vice versa,so therefore we
compliment each other. If you think it’s a
lie, what makes them lecturers if not the
availability of
students?
To bring an end to this scorpion eating up
our educational sector,this is the way
forward
The federal government should provide
ASUU with all they want so they can go back
to the classroom but an unbiased panel
should be set up as watch dogs which will
comprise of both lecturers and students to
check mate any lecturer that will not give
100 percent performance of his or her duty
as a teacher, any lecturer found wanting
after investigation shall be summarily
dismissed( do your job in order for you to
keep your job).I believe this will be able to
eradicate bribery otherwise known as
blocking or sorting by greedy lecturers.
Most importantly every leader should
have love and compassion for the people
they lead, if our leaders truly have this
undeniable love towards us they should
adhere strictly to section 18 of the 1999
constitution and the oath of allegiance they
took before assuming office. A law should b
passed that there should be compulsory
admission of all off-springs of our leaders in
any varsity located in the constituency they
represent, this law will foster equal
educational opportunities in accordance wit
section 18 of the 1999 constitution. With
this policy our leaders will learn how to do
the right things at the right time, this
burden of numerous ASUU strike is too
much for the masses to handle alone.
A word of advice for those piloting the
affairs of this Nation, the question you
should always ask yourself is not ”will my
calender be full but rather what will fill my
calender”. To ASUU do your job in order for
you to keep your job.
To my fellow Nigeria students I promise
you all today that we will surely be taking
over soon, so I indulge you not to pack in
the packing lot of our leaders. we are the
hope for tomorrow; we should not talk ill
about our country. To get the responsive
government and a Nigeria we all dream of,
this is where I come in, this is where you
come in, this is where we all come in.
we cannot raise Nigeria up by calling her
down… GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC
OF NIGERIA !!!
IGBINOBA .O. TONY(the thinker)

I love dis...excellent

Thanks kruzilano,, please let's not keep dis informative and moltivational work 2 ourselves alone,, u can help me by tellin others abt it..the entire country should be aware of this..

princetizzy: Thanks kruzilano,, please let's not keep dis informative and moltivational work 2 ourselves alone,, u can help me by tellin others abt it..the entire country should be aware of this..

dats gud... I dnt knw how dis will sound, but can i publish dis?

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