WHY ASUU STRIKE MUST CONTINUE
Support ASUU to produce employable graduates
AMB. Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

The Ongoing ASUU strike had surpasses its third month, and different opinions are emerging due to the continued strike.

Parents are lamenting, students are complaining, concerned citizens are advising, ASUU is insisting and federal Government is unwilling. What should be the way out?

To make an informed opinion, one requires critical assessments of the issues. We must understand the importance of ASUU demands and the implication on the Education sector. We must also consider the effect such demands could have on the lives of the students during and after graduation and the general effect on the economy of our dear country if it is implemented.

In addition, we must also consider the position of the Federal Government, its constrains and capability in meeting these demands.

Let us take a look at the issues together.

First, 70% of Nigerian graduates are unemployed, and if these unemployed graduates raise their voice in demand of a job, the Government and other actors in the labour market would react negatively, saying most graduates are half baked and unemployable.

The question is, who produced the half baked and unemployable graduates? The Nigerian Education Sector. And who are the key actors in this sector? The Lecturers who are associated under ASUU.

In a nutshell, if the graduates are condemned for being half baked and unemployable, the larger blame is directly or indirectly going to the system that produced them which ASUU is a major shareholder. In simple words, ASUU produced half baked and unemployable graduates.

In 2009, ASUU said enough is enough. We no longer want to produce half baked and unemployable graduates, we must produce graduates that would be highly respected and regarded for their education and certification. ASUU said it wanted to produce graduates that can never be accused of being half baked and unemployable, but qualified and highly resourceful graduates. It then stated the materials, resources and other demands that would ensure it meet up with the set target.

In the spirit of mutual understanding, the federal Government entered an agreement with ASUU in 2009 with a promise to implement the agreement as agreed. But many things overtook the agreement with the emergence of a new government under President Goodluck Jonathan.

After the emergence of a new Government, ASUU and Federal Government had to shift ground after coming together again in 2012 to restate the demands and they entered another agreement with the new president, but yet, the Government failed to honour it own part of the agreement which led to the Ongoing strike.

Now, ASUU is saying enough is enough, we must produce employable graduates that would be highly respected, but the FG is saying no, we cannot finance such worthwhile venture.

Though, the FG is financing several less important ventures with even more resources, but it said it is impossible to implement an agreement that would transform the Nigeria education sector for better.

Further more, In the desperation of the FG to force ASUU into bending its beautiful plan for Nigerian students, it is trying to paint ASUU black before the public through blackmail and intimidation; but the Academic union seem to be focus and dedicated to transform the education sector.

The FG had also tried using the Student Union, especially NANS to blackmail the academics, trying to make the students and the public lost confidence in the ongoing dedication of ASUU to correct the wrong in our education, but ASUU is dedicated to transform the lives of the students and ensure students graduate as full baked.

Although, some students are complaining, saying they are tired of sitting at home and urging ASUU to accept whatever the FG is willing to give and go back to the class and allow them graduate. Their parents are also lamenting, our children have to go back to school.

But I want to ask, where are the graduates of 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and so on? They are all at home and accused of being half baked and unemployable. So, why are student in hurry to graduate? Graduate to do what, when 70% of the former graduates are still at home without employment, neither do they have any hope of securing one soon? What is the essence of rushing to graduate when you will be accused of being half baked and unemployable in the labour market? Why not support ASUU who are ready to sacrifices with you to acquire a certificate that would respected, regarded and employable?

In My opinion, ASUU strike should be supported to continue until the FG is ready to meet the demands to transform the Education sector. Students should also support the strike and join ASUU is demanding the full implementation of the agreement that would transform their lives for better.

ASUU can’t resume to class now and still go on strike after few years, it must be done now once and for all.

Let the strike continue until the demands are meet once and for all and let the education sector be transformed.

Support ASUU to produce employable graduates, let them produce qualified graduates whose certification would be respected and highly regarded.

It must be now or never. ASUU strike must continue.

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