*ASUU; THE REPULSE TO NIGERIAN STUDENTS NOT THE FG*
BY: OKETA MONDAY

This personal opinion piece is solely aimed at accusing the academic staff Union of universities of contributing and masterminding the challenges faced by Nigerian students over the ravaging covid-19 pandemic by carelessly and ridiculously insisting that schools must reopen in 2021.

Recently, the president of ASUU, Prof. Ogunyemi hinted hard against the relentless efforts the federal government are making to land at the best modalities to ensure the safety of students and staff of universities before schools reopen.

Why would ASUU be insisting on schools reopening in 2021? Are they no more the custodians of Nigerian education that would go back to their drawing board and present to federal government the best modalities put in place to safeguard Nigerian students for immediate schools reopening but instead are worsening the contemplation and consideration move been made by federal ministry of education.

Prof. Ogunyemi cannot easily deny this statement as he is reportedly doing when he has categorically told federal government not to border or hasten the schools reopening processes because ASUU's conditions that led to strike actions has not been met by federal government. He went further to state that until their conditions are me,universities will not resume even after covid-19 pandemic.

What is more excruciating than this statement accredited to the supposed students father who should have been in a better position to call for immediate schools reopening considering the ugly effects of this home stay due to covid-19 pandemic over Nigerian students; which has led many into frustration, social vices,cyber criminals, unwanted pregnancy and loss of education interest in our dear country, Nigeria.

Obviously, the position of ASUU can no longer be believed to mean for the interest of Nigerian students and safety of students against covid-19 pandemic but could be believed to mean pursuing their personal interest even at the detriment of the students.

I personally question the integrity of the academic staff Union of universities ASUU and their position even when the federal minister of education alhaji adamu adamu is making frantic efforts to consider and adopt the best modalities for schools reopening; Nigerian students looking forward for ASUU's contributions and guidelines for immediate schools reopening are really disappointed over the statement and position of prof. Ogunyemi.

Why won't the ASUU in conjunction with the federal ministry of education reach out the best way to ensure the protection of students and staff added to the existing protocols and guidelines stipulated by the world health organization, Nigerian center for disease control and covid-19 presidential taskforce committee? It is more worrisome that the position of ASUU is no more about students safety but on the need to fulfill their conditions first before considering the plights and suffering of millions of Nigerian students.

ASUU's decision and position here is quite understandable because 85% of the members of academic staff Union of universities like Nigerian politicians have their children schooling in a reputable institutions abroad while they can do anything to worsen the situation of Nigerian institutions and her students.

The rationale and sensibility behind the continues lockdown of institutions call for questioning even when the inter state travel ban has been lifted and other public functions, gathering and elections are taking place unrestricted in Nigeria; Recall that recently amid the ravaging covid-19 pandemic, taraba state conducted her LGAs election and the winners were announced to the public. Also, on August 15,2020 Ebonyi state will equally conduct LGAs election; this is across the LGAs where the electorates are expected to not be less than 100 at every polling unit. Furthermore, what about Edo and ONDO states September and October gubernatorial elections respectively?

It is highly expected that the measures applied in protecting these electorates while voting and excising their franchise be also applied to Nigerian students to learn and improve the future of our bleeding country, Nigeria.

Note that in Edo September gubernatorial election, the total number of expected electorates are about 2,210,534 voters while that of ONDO October gubernatorial election is expected about 1,822,346 voters; the total will correspond to about 4,032,880 voters who will inadvertently excise their rights in electing their respective state governors but the students who can hardly have about 500 numbers in each class lecture are been schemed out to 2021.

I hereby commend the federal ministry of education on their research on the best modalities for schools reopening and also to the parents and guidance of Nigerian students who has been relentlessly bent on reaching out to the ministry of education for possible schools reopening; however as a Nigerian student,I therefore caution the members of ASUU and challenge them to come up with the best best modalities to reopen our schools and shun out all their personal and groups interest by insisting that their conditions must be met before schools reopen even after covid-19 pandemic.

If the ASUU as body refused to take a genuine and pragmatic steps in working harmoniously in collaboration with the federal ministry of education to ensure swift and responsive reopening of our schools, henceforth, Nigerian students will start viewing ASUU as repulse, disgusting Union who places personal interest above national interest.

OKETA MONDAY
(oketamonday@gmail.com)
Is a students leader, political analyst and an ardent advocate for good governance.
In Abakaliki, the capital city of Ebonyi state of Nigeria.
20th July, 2020

ASUU are maaaad
FG are.......
coviiik one nine birus is......
see ba if they don't open schools b4 September they will really see anyhow from students...
shay the students union said they'll soon protest, time is coming they will be seeing it like action film

I second this 100% and hope the president of nigeria student association will take this up. Imagine the insensitive and careless statement the so called leader of an academic union is making at this time.

@lalasticlala, front page please. nigerian students are tired

I think the Students' union should sue ASUU to court if they really want progress

The most annoying things is that they would say they are fighting for the student and not knowing they don't have an iota of sympathy for Nigeria student.

trust lalasticlala not to move this to fp. Anything that will move Nigeria forward is always left to for behind the scenes. Pathetic! Students are crying.

ASUU never said that schools should remain closed till 2021, that was a twisted story from one of those online news.

Come and see small small children carrying belle in my area.. Fear go catch you.
Most of my niggas mind don dey cut from school self
Bleep ASUU