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 A.S.U.U
(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. 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 A.S.U.U
(Academic staff union of universities) before I go
into the issue of AS..U.U 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 A.S.U.U is a festival celebrated in Nigeria
where students don’t go to school”.
. AS.U.U 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 with A.S.U.U. 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 A.S.U.U strike. It
has now turned into a normal routine that A.S.U.U
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 A.S.U.U
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
A.S.U.U and FG? Is A.S.U.U 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
A.S.U.U 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 A.S.U.U 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
specialization,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 A.S.U.U
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 A.S.U.U strike is too much for
the masses to handle alone.
Furthermore section 18 of the 1999 constitution
should be amended and moved from chapter two
to chapter four(fundamental rights) education
should be our right and not a privilege, because
education is the back bone of all nations economy
in the world. 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 A.S.U.U
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