STILL ON THE APPEAL TO KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT TO BE RESPONSIVE AND SHUN POLITICISING ISSUES OF GOVERNANCE.

By: Abdulmalik Hadi Adinoyi.


Just as helpless as we have been rendered with the situation at hand which is further compounded by deliberate attempts to stop every move to Publicly Demand for that which is our fundamental Human Right , Our decision to remain neutral in the ongoing lingering crisis between the Government of Kogi State and ASUU-KSU has obviously been seen and taken as ignorance of what we truly deserve as legal citizens of this state near collapse. Today being the 3rd of July, 2017 makes it exactly five Months that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Kogi State University Anyigba Chapter embarked on a total and comprehensive strike action to press home their demands from Kogi State Government on two count Charges which were as at that time(1) Immediate reconstituting of the University's Governing council (2) And the payment of Salary arrears to all categories of Academic Staff Members. I wouldn't waste time to explain how embarrassing it is to note that despite the importance of a Governing Council, the Government has to be requested to reconstitute it having dissolved it by herself. On the Salary arrears issues, the still yet to be Useful Staff Verification Exercise embarked upon by same government is said to account for why members of Academic Staff in a University can be owed up to as much as 5 months minimum. These were the demands of ASUU and as well as the most likely first remark by anybody who cares to know why the strike action was first of all embarked upon.

Not minding the unwillingness of government to accept the fact that it was a great mistake to have allowed business of the University to be carried out for as long as One year without a Governing Council which is of great importance in all ramification to the development of the Institution, we had a deep breath of relieve when the Governing Council was Reconstituted earlier with the hope that the council will be in a better position to educate those at the Corridors of power as to how a University and Perhaps Tertiary Institutions of Learning should be Run. We were full of hopes that soon, our story shall be that of a two bird killed with one stone. We had thought that with the obvious lack of due and deserving attention of government for so long towards the University, the governing Council will in all sincerity give satisfactory advise to those that are involved. Regrettably, after two months of Inauguration we are yet to see Practical effects that the new governing council have made in the quest to resolving the lingering crisis, what we can't tell is if their advises to the Visitor of the University is swept under the carpet as used to or the council itself lacks the Proper Technical Ability to resolving the crisis.

The category of Lecturers with the highest number of months of unpaid salaries are those employed in 2015, employment tagged by the Yahaya Bello government as Political Patronage. How? No one has been able to give a sincere and matured answer to this question. Some even alleged that some sections of the state were sidelined in the employment processes and as such lopsided. Wondered if people know that what we are talking about is the Job of Lecturing , enough to justify these employment is in the recognition of the fact that they were made based on needs. That the University is different from the Civil service is one big Fact that this government in the hands of seemingly Administrative Miss-Informed Fellows are yet to accept . The bone of contention as it is , is the refusal of Kogi State Government to sincerely address this issue. Isn't unwise for anyone to think that these Lecturers will return back to classroom after Five months without the main aim why they embarked on the strike action addressed ?

Unfortunately the people of Kogi came out enmass in 2015 to demand for change of government unknown to them that they were in for one chance. The Youths vehemently lead the struggle and clamoured for active youth participation in governance, little did they know that what they were venturing into is a struggle that will totally collapse the state. A government lead by Youths conveniently sitting and watch the only University owned by the State on Strike for five months after three months of similar situation in the preceding year is a total embarrassment and show of lack of sincerity of purpose.
Where are not too blind to see the fingers trying not only to frustrate our efforts as students to bare the inconvenient learning environment for learning a much difficult one but also doing everything possible to finally collapse a system that has long been protected from same.
Our voices may not be heard immediately but undoubtedly time defines everything and we are so sure that definitely it must be heard.

With ASUU coming out to clearly state their main point of request which is the payment of all outstanding arrears of Salaries, One is caused by Conscience to sympathise with the body and request of those who have rendered the Educational sector Epileptic to do the meaningful. If those employed in the Health Sector can be reinstated , what then is the offence of those employed similarly in Kogi State University. ASUU as a body as I believe is not out to persuade government to do that which is wrong. But that the reasons given for the withdraw of the services of these persons is not convincing. Indeed Kogi State Government have choosen the path of Politics and media propaganda spearheaded by jobless youths who less deserve positions of authorities that they have been mandated to handle, Peeps who are not close to having idea of how a University Administrative system should be are adding more pains to the injury already caused by carelessness by constantly accusing Leadership of the Union of affiliation with perceived opposition members of the state government to frustrate every effort to develop the state and do what is right. One wonders if the request of ASUU is not clear and meaningful enough to struggle for such that they need the help of an outsiders to remind them. A guilty conscience they say fears no accusation. This believe of theirs stems from their inability to put their house together notably. The rationale behind instructing students to get back to school without the readiness of their tutors to resume work is still unclear to us. Needless to remind government and every other stakeholders who Participated in this kangaro arrangement the implications of the presence of students in school without academic activities. The house rent paid by students have been wasted in a half way, frustration indeed can lead to crisis , that we are at home figuratively up till this time already indicates that the half-way graduands are automatically exempted from their NYSC this year.

Conclusively, like I have always said, a Union can not be more than a state government and instead of going about that the Union is being used by certain persons to truncate efforts of the state government which we have not seen should be taken away and let the main issue of concern be treated objectively and with all sincerity.
God Bless Kogi State.