ASUU STRIKE: A PLOT TO DISENFRANCHISE NIGERIAN STUDENTS DURING 2019 POLLS
By Obiora Okeke

The Academic Staff Union of Universities - ASUU which was founded in 1978, succeeded the then Nigerian Association of University Teachers formed in 1965 and covering academic staff in all of the Federal and State Universities in the country.

The Union which had engaged in series of industrial actions in a quest for University Autonomy, Welfare and an increase in education standard over the years had also continued in her active struggles against the government as they had embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike over implementation of 2009 agreement regarding the decay in public universities, disregard of agreements reached with the union in 2013 and 2017, as well as the failure to pay the arrears of the shortfall in salaries, even after the presidential initiative on continuous audit verification by the federal government on 4th November, 2018.

I've always actively advocated for ASUU's demand to be met as her demands are genuine even when many persons have argued that the strike was politically oriented. My thoughts, hope and opinions of many Nigerian Students over politicizing of ASUU Strike was thrown to the wind yesterday after the striking lecturers (ASUU) agreed to work with INEC despite her ongoing strike action.

We've remained committed to the struggle with ASUU as we've all hoped that the government will consider the demand of ASUU since General Election is close as members of ASUU, students and NYSC members are always engaged as INEC adhoc staff during elections.

We anticipated that the threat of we not participating in 2019 elections will be a major reason why FG should be compelled to meet to the demands of striking lecturers. It's very disappointing that after remaining committed to the struggle with our lecturers, we were left to wonder in the wild forest of thoughts as our lecturers have accepted to work with INEC and never considered the students suffering because of her strike actions.

We've been left with no option than to believe that ASUU strike was politically oriented. Before Christmas, ASUU and FG negotiating Team had always met every week and yet all we get at the end is that "The meeting ended in deadlock."

We continued to hope that we'll hold them hostage via 2019 polls not until 3rd January, 2019, when the leadership of NANS after declaring a protest against FG and ASUU, dashed our Confidence in them as they visited President Buhari, issued birthday card as well as promising him 20 Millions votes while we students continue suffering from ASUU strike when education should be the priority of the government.

We had believed that ASUU will remain firm in her decision of been committed to the struggle till the end not until yesterday 4th January, 2019 when they agreed to work with INEC as ad-hoc staff. This is a great sabotage to Nigerian Students at home... We are all at home today because of ASUU strike. We expected ASUU to boycott everything that has nothing to do with meeting to her demand but it's quiet unfortunate that greed wouldn't allow some focus and remain committed to their struggle.

Also, President Buhari on 3rd January, 2019 while playing host to Executive Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in the State House, Abuja had appealed to labour unions in the country to allow his administration concentrate on fixing infrastructure, rather than distracting it. What I draw from it is that the Presidency aren't ready either to meet to the demand of the union as they consider it a distraction to their administration even when their demands are genuine..

At this point, I believe everyone is convinced beyond reasonable doubt that ASUU Strike has been politicized.
Have you asked yourself Why didn't INEC demand for the suspension of ASUU strike rather, they're only interested in getting striking lecturers work with them and forget about the millions of students that'll be disenfranchised as a result of the ongoing strike action.

Most students have their PVC's registered in their various schools. How would they vote when they're home because of ASUU Strike. If FG, INEC, ASUU and NANS are really interested in ensuring none is disenfranchised come 2019 polls which is one of our human right, a better solution would have been reached before now.. We're less than 6 weeks to General Elections yet nothing reasonable have been concluded.

Dear Nigerian Student, it's clear to us all that the struggle has been sabotaged. We've been left to ponder and wonder after been abandoned in the wild forest as we all remain jobless without hope in our various homes.

Is it a crime to school in Nigeria?
Education which should be the Government's priority isn't what it is.
If ASUU strike continues, the implication is that millions of students will be disenfranchised as they won't be able to cast their votes.
Is this the way forward?

I therefore use this medium to appeal to all necessary and concerned authorities to please come to the aid of Nigerian Students.
We want to return to classes.
We want to cast our votes.
We want to roundoff our projects and graduate just like our colleagues studying outside the country.
We want a better academic structure.
We want a better education in Nigeria.

May God help us all and grant us success.
Amen.

- Obiora Okeke
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
5th January, 2019.

Please note, everything expressed in this article is only but the view of the writer. We don't intend to defame anyone but express deeply our feelings over the situation.

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and twitter @amobioraokeke.
Mail: obioraokeke2@gmail.com

Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta

#TeamObiora

Please share...

Here is the 15 times ASUU has gone on strike since 1999
1999– 5mths 2001– 3mths 2002– 2wks 2003– 6 months 2005– 3 days 2006– 1wk 2007– 3mths 2008– Two wks 2009– 4mths 2010– 5mths, 1 week 2011– 3mths 2013– 5mths, 13 days 2016– 1wk 2017– 1mth, 6 days 2018– 2mths
#EndAsuuStrike 1999-2008...we covered over 20months

Students will not be disenfranchised cos of the strike. An arrangement will be made to allow them go to school to vote.

I believe it's better to get the FG to fulfill its obligations now rather than blackmail ASUU with students not being in school or the forthcoming elections.

Apparently whoever wrote this is less informed, during election period most schools if not all gives break to their students so as to travel home and participate in the election, also majority of students have their voters card registered at their place of residence which is not the school, this means that if school were on majority of student won't vote. Election or no election this strike should be resolved once and for all.

chuckdelis:
Apparently whoever wrote this is less informed, during election period most schools if not all gives break to their students so as to travel home and participate in the election, also majority of students have their voters card registered at their place of residence which is not the school, this means that if school were on majority of student won't vote. Election or no election this strike should be resolved once and for all.

It seems you are the one less informed.
Giving break is not for them to go home and vote but it is generally declared a public holiday any day that there is election.

Which school did you attend and during elections. Weren’t there polling booths inside the school?
If the students go home, who will vote inside the schools?
I have been thinking this is plot to reduce the votes from The south.

SCOTTYOUNG:
ASUU STRIKE: A PLOT TO DISENFRANCHISE NIGERIAN STUDENTS DURING 2019 POLLS
By Obiora Okeke

The Academic Staff Union of Universities - ASUU which was founded in 1978, succeeded the then Nigerian Association of University Teachers formed in 1965 and covering academic staff in all of the Federal and State Universities in the country.

The Union which had engaged in series of industrial actions in a quest for University Autonomy, Welfare and an increase in education standard over the years had also continued in her active struggles against the government as they had embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike over implementation of 2009 agreement regarding the decay in public universities, disregard of agreements reached with the union in 2013 and 2017, as well as the failure to pay the arrears of the shortfall in salaries, even after the presidential initiative on continuous audit verification by the federal government on 4th November, 2018.

I've always actively advocated for ASUU's demand to be met as her demands are genuine even when many persons have argued that the strike was politically oriented. My thoughts, hope and opinions of many Nigerian Students over politicizing of ASUU Strike was thrown to the wind yesterday after the striking lecturers (ASUU) agreed to work with INEC despite her ongoing strike action.

We've remained committed to the struggle with ASUU as we've all hoped that the government will consider the demand of ASUU since General Election is close as members of ASUU, students and NYSC members are always engaged as INEC adhoc staff during elections.

We anticipated that the threat of we not participating in 2019 elections will be a major reason why FG should be compelled to meet to the demands of striking lecturers. It's very disappointing that after remaining committed to the struggle with our lecturers, we were left to wonder in the wild forest of thoughts as our lecturers have accepted to work with INEC and never considered the students suffering because of her strike actions.

We've been left with no option than to believe that ASUU strike was politically oriented. Before Christmas, ASUU and FG negotiating Team had always met every week and yet all we get at the end is that "The meeting ended in deadlock."

We continued to hope that we'll hold them hostage via 2019 polls not until 3rd January, 2019, when the leadership of NANS after declaring a protest against FG and ASUU, dashed our Confidence in them as they visited President Buhari, issued birthday card as well as promising him 20 Millions votes while we students continue suffering from ASUU strike when education should be the priority of the government.

We had believed that ASUU will remain firm in her decision of been committed to the struggle till the end not until yesterday 4th January, 2019 when they agreed to work with INEC as ad-hoc staff. This is a great sabotage to Nigerian Students at home... We are all at home today because of ASUU strike. We expected ASUU to boycott everything that has nothing to do with meeting to her demand but it's quiet unfortunate that greed wouldn't allow some focus and remain committed to their struggle.

Also, President Buhari on 3rd January, 2019 while playing host to Executive Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in the State House, Abuja had appealed to labour unions in the country to allow his administration concentrate on fixing infrastructure, rather than distracting it. What I draw from it is that the Presidency aren't ready either to meet to the demand of the union as they consider it a distraction to their administration even when their demands are genuine..

At this point, I believe everyone is convinced beyond reasonable doubt that ASUU Strike has been politicized.
Have you asked yourself Why didn't INEC demand for the suspension of ASUU strike rather, they're only interested in getting striking lecturers work with them and forget about the millions of students that'll be disenfranchised as a result of the ongoing strike action.

Most students have their PVC's registered in their various schools. How would they vote when they're home because of ASUU Strike. If FG, INEC, ASUU and NANS are really interested in ensuring none is disenfranchised come 2019 polls which is one of our human right, a better solution would have been reached before now.. We're less than 6 weeks to General Elections yet nothing reasonable have been concluded.

Dear Nigerian Student, it's clear to us all that the struggle has been sabotaged. We've been left to ponder and wonder after been abandoned in the wild forest as we all remain jobless without hope in our various homes.

Is it a crime to school in Nigeria?
Education which should be the Government's priority isn't what it is.
If ASUU strike continues, the implication is that millions of students will be disenfranchised as they won't be able to cast their votes.
Is this the way forward?

I therefore use this medium to appeal to all necessary and concerned authorities to please come to the aid of Nigerian Students.
We want to return to classes.
We want to cast our votes.
We want to roundoff our projects and graduate just like our colleagues studying outside the country.
We want a better academic structure.
We want a better education in Nigeria.

May God help us all and grant us success.
Amen.

- Obiora Okeke
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
5th January, 2019.

Please note, everything expressed in this article is only but the view of the writer. We don't intend to defame anyone but express deeply our feelings over the situation.

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and twitter @amobioraokeke.
Mail: obioraokeke2@gmail.com

Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta

#TeamObiora

Please share...

Modified

Dear Obiora Okeke I would want to set the record straight on some certain issues raised.
1. ASUU president said that their members can participate as adhoc staff if they so wish.
2. ASUU grounded academic activity it would be foolish to boycott elections . INEC can decide to use other adhoc staff without the academicians.
3. ASUU strike is not political as negotiations and dialogue have been on since 2017. Infact they issued warning strike around Oct/November 2017.
4. ASUU members were begged to participate since they did good job in 2015. Many lecturers feel that it would be selfish of them should they boycott the elections. Mind you we still have ASUP strike to deliberate.
5. You should know that NANS are not fighting for Nigeria students. The composition of that body are ex students ( to be best of my knowledge).
6. INEC made it clear on their campaigns that electorate should register in the home base Should there be need to vote in another locality, voters can apply for transfer of PVC. Kindly visit the nearest INEC centre for more information.

Giving break is not for them to go home and vote but it is generally declared a public holiday any day that there is election.

It is for them to go and vote and to avoid any form of electorate violence.

Which school did you attend and during elections. Weren’t there polling booths inside the school?
If the students go home, who will vote inside the schools?

The university community is made of students, lecturers, non teaching staff and businessmen. Should the students go on a break, the other persons can vote.

I have been thinking this is plot to reduce the votes from The south.

Not true. Many southern claim to be wise because they are educated. Collect your PVC na problem una go dey form whereas many northerners have their. Many southern politicians don't even know how to play politics.

Jeswino:
Students will not be disenfranchised cos of the strike. An arrangement will be made to allow them go to school to vote.

I believe it's better to get the FG to fulfill its obligations now rather than blackmail ASUU with students not being in school or the forthcoming elections.

Dear brother, there's no such arrangement in Nigeria.

asuustrike1:

Modified

Dear Obiora Okeke I would want to set the record straight on some certain issues raised.
1. ASUU president said that their members can participate as adhoc staff if they so wish.
2. ASUU grounded academic activity it would be foolish to boycott elections . INEC can decide to use other adhoc staff without the academicians.
3. ASUU strike is not political as negotiations and dialogue have been on since 2017. Infact they issued warning strike around Oct/November 2017.
4. ASUU members were begged to participate since they did good job in 2015. Many lecturers feel that it would be selfish of them should they boycott the elections. Mind you we still have ASUP strike to deliberate.
5. You should know that NANS are not fighting for Nigeria students. The composition of that body are ex students ( to be best of my knowledge).
6. INEC made it clear on their campaigns that electorate should register in the home base Should there be need to vote in another locality, voters can apply for transfer of PVC. Kindly visit the nearest INEC centre for more information.

Read recursively... He condemned ASUU for agreeing to participate as ad-hoc staff without considering students at home... It selfish of them to do so. Meanwhile you register where you'll vote. Students register in school because they'll be in session during elections.

SCOTTYOUNG:


Read recursively... He condemned ASUU for agreeing to participate as ad-hoc staff without considering students at home... It selfish of them to do so. Meanwhile you register where you'll vote. Students register in school because they'll be in session during elections.

ASUU would have participated whether their president obliged or not hence it was better he made it clear to all. INEC made it clear that electorate register where they would vote. The question is why would student register in their school or close to the school environment whereas they reside in another locality?. PVC registration has been on since why didn't they register in their home base instead of school?. If students insist on voting they have two options
1. Apply for transfer of PVC ( if that is feasible)
2. Go to their school to cast their votes. All things be equal the outcome of the meeting will determine if ASUU would call off strike or not