Strike: Ali Berates Lecturers, Says They’re Not Dedicated

Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, an Ilorin-based legal practitioner, has identified lack of commitment to the welfare of students as a factor responsible for the incessant strikes by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the country.

Speaking with newsmen at his chamber, Mallam Ali said the attitude of Nigeria’s successive governments over the years had exacerbated the matter.

“More than 80 per cent of those in the university system are those who found themselves in the teaching profession, because they have no other choice. That personal commitment of wanting to see to the success of the students, of wanting to make sure that the system goes on, is not there.

“For those of us who went to the universities in the 70s and early 80s, what could stand between you and graduation at the scheduled period was if you failed. For the few times universities were shut, they were closed because of students’ agitations. But in the last 10 years, the closure of the university system had been at the instance of the lecturers. That is very worrisome. I’m not aware of any country in the world where that happens, most of the time, agitations from lecturers have been responsible for the closure of our universities.

“My own simple way of looking at it is that 80 per cent of those who were lecturers then went there because that was what they wanted to do. They chose teaching in the university as a profession. There was personal dedication. They saw other options but they chose to be teachers. The reverse is the case now,” he said.

He reasoned that the government had, perhaps, resolved to close its eyes to ASUU’s demands as they knew that the association would always embark on industrial action, saying that strike should be a potent tool in the hands of the workers.

“You know, the power that is not used is the best power. Once you start to flaunt your power, it becomes common knowledge. So, nobody takes it serious any more. I think that is the problem of the government and ASUU. It is unfortunate because strike is the most potent weapon in the hands of workers, but which should be sparingly used.”





http://www.tribune.com.ng/06102009/news/news8.html