By Issachar Odion
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has overstepped the bounds of reason. To say that most discerning Nigerians are angry with the union is an understatement. Whoever anticipated that ASUU’s show of shame would last this long?
At first, we all sympathised with the pedagogues, thinking they were protesting to secure better learning conditions for the younger generation. Alas, we were wrong! Now, the varsity teachers have made it clear that they are more interested in their personal comfort than the future of our nation.
At the beginning of the strike, the union bought us over by presenting poor infrastructure as the ostensible reason for their action; yet even after government has made concessions, releasing 130 billion naira and making a commitment to do even more, the lecturers have remained implacable. Isn’t it clear that they have less than noble intentions?
To make matters worse, ASUU has resorted to ludicrous antics in a bid to hoodwink Nigerians into thinking that they are national heroes fighting for the evolution of a better educational system. Obviously, this is far from the truth. Rather, they are simply using our young ones as pawns in a ruthlessly brutal duel to prove some political point, which is best known to them and their sponsors.
In times past, ASUU has called off strikes even when their requests were not acceded to. Why is it that they have remained adamant now that government is responding positively? I am especially appalled at the manner with which these people continue to insult our sensibilities by maliciously passing the buck to the government and deliberately maligning well meaning people like the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who interestingly has nothing to do with the whole thing.
Being a daughter of academics and an academic herself, Madam Finance minister understands the need for a viable educational system, which explains why she has played a major role in ensuring that funds are released to cater for the provision of infrastructure in our universities. The last I heard, 100 billion naira has been released to put needed infrastructures in place on our campuses. Furthermore, the Federal Government has also committed to spending N200 billion in the 2014 budget on the universities as well as in each of the next three-four years until the universities are brought to world-class standard. This is in addition to the N100 billion dedicated and already made available for 2013. Not stopping there, the government has also increased to N40 billion the first instalment of funds for the payment of earned allowances to the striking lecturers, an improvement from the N30 billion previously released.
Any objective observer can easily see that the Finance Minister is in total support of improved emoluments for university teachers. But since it will be unwise to overdo it in a way that it will not be sustainable, she has appealed that they should accept what government has offered. Now, what is wrong with that?
Unfortunately, members of ASUU have continued to blackmail the woman for taking such a stance in the interest of national good. For them, it doesn’t matter if the entire economy shuts down as long as their own bank accounts are well funded. Isn’t that the height of irresponsibility?
Every university student knows that most lecturers don’t take their responsibility seriously. Most of them run personal ventures at the expense of the students they are being paid to teach. Yet, they keep agitating for pay raise. What an irony!
It is time for Nigerians to wake up and nail the real culprit. Like I observed in one of my recent articles, one of our major problems is the fact that we don’t take time to analyse issues for ourselves. Rather, we flow with the tide of public opinion which is most often defined by a few opinion shapers. We must tell ASUU that we cannot contain their excesses anymore. We will not allow them to continue to make scapegoats of our bright young minds, who incidentally are our hope and pride, in a bid to satisfy their selfish ends.
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You are obviously a fan of the Finance Minister. Please keep it up.
ReplyDeleteI am a student and i support the strike because it's for the best intentions despite the way you have used words to make it look otherwise. Please stop the image laundering/dry-cleaning.
we're not buying it.
Wot a foolish article !
ReplyDeleteRBM,i dnt think u re a student bcos of d way u ce things.i have dis believe dat things fg played a good role,if u check since asuu strike in nigeria fg hv never raise such fund to asuu.so dey shuld help d students by december der landlord's will start asking them for rent.i guess u re nt a student RBM.tnx
ReplyDeleteRBM,i dnt think u re a student bcos of d way u ce things.i have dis believe dat fg played a good role,if u check since asuu strike in nigeria fg hv never raise such fund to asuu.so dey shuld help d students by december der landlord's will start asking them for rent.i guess u re nt a student RBM.tnx
ReplyDeleteRBM,i dnt think u re a student bcos of d way u ce things.i have dis believe dat fg played a good role,if u check since asuu strike in nigeria fg hv never raise such fund to asuu.so dey shuld help d students by december der landlord's will start asking them for rent.i guess u re nt a student RBM.tnx
ReplyDeleteYes I agree that it is mere image laundering you are doing here. I have absolutely nothing against the finance minster because she has not affected my life in anyway with all her reforms or whatever the call. No result to show for it. The main thing is that our universities is messed up...we need actions like this to bring our derailed government back on track. I am sure if it was to increase salaries for the senators or government officials it wont take too long. Nigeria MUST change for the better, it doesn't matter if it has to start from the education sector.
ReplyDeleteMr Odion or whatever you call your name, I am sur you have been bribe by the people in government or the so called finance minister to write this. because, the way you have used words here show you have something for her..I am sorry for you...agreement with the ASUU that have been made since 1999 and yet to be implemented and you are there saying rob ish..
ReplyDeleteIssachar Odion, simply described - you are a fool that should keep your mouth shut. Only the devil knows how much you have been paid to put up this write-up.
ReplyDeleteMr Odion, I believe U have hearing disability. U heard that Govt has released #100b, but U became DEAF when VCs said that they have not received a dime as regards the #130b the govt claimed to have release. If U're a reasonable person U shld know that ASUU has called of it previous strikes based on govt promises, and records shows that ASUU have been on strike for a year plus in this country and the current strike is 3months plus. I think U're Idle and need a Job.
ReplyDeleteContinue to blame ASUU instead of our corrupt govt. Mumu mr IDION!
Whatever u were paid to present such lies will benefit u nothing. Painful as d strike is to our students, its time some ppl stand up to this irresponsible govt dt hv money wen it comes to their comfort
ReplyDeleteGosh!! Broda woh were u thinking?? 95% of pple interested in readin dis r students of 9ja, n we al kw wots goin on. so stop tryin 2 eliviate d deeds of d g'vnt...jas try n take a step back, n obsearve wit cloud n u c d moment of truth in al dis.
ReplyDeletewhat a foolish article. how much were you paid for this rubbish you wrote. can you prove to me that their intesion is to loot money? well i dont have words for you on this article. your not ashame of yourself.
ReplyDeleteAre we saying if FG meets the need of ASUU, sorting, sexual harassment, compulsory buying of handout, will stop or are we saying ASUU will start attending to students in a civilize way as done outside this country and in private universities? Over to you RBM and the likes
ReplyDeleteThis is the best article av read concerning this strike... Try publishing this on national dailies.... Just one word. Magnificent. To all those so called students ranting here, "get your facts right or shut up and support greedy asuu"
ReplyDeleteASUU took the revolution into their hands. It is high time we citizens to the revolution of this country into our own hands. imagine, somebody buying two cars for 255millions and yet there is no money for education in this country. That money, taken to buy two worthless cars is enough to pay scholarships to thousands of NIGERIAN students. The author of this article must be made to have written this. KUDOS TO ASUU. Aluta continua!
ReplyDeleteASUU took the revolution into their hands. It is high time we citizens to the revolution of this country into our own hands. imagine, somebody buying two cars for 255millions and yet there is no money for education in this country. That money, taken to buy two worthless cars is enough to pay scholarships to thousands of NIGERIAN students. The author of this article must be made to have written this. KUDOS TO ASUU. Aluta continua!
ReplyDeleteAm stunned to read the trash written by Mr Dumb Odion. I bet he is a politician or seeks a role in government. Couldnt just finish reading the piece of trash he wrote because his judgement is so tinted. Please say hello to your madam the Minister of Finance.
ReplyDeleteweather article is foolish or not, weather d FG is wrong n ASUU is right or viceversa i dnt care. U guys shud better shut yur mouth cause am fuckin idle here n its nt funny. Its nt bcos u were opportune 2 b managing smtin u wil come n b commentin rubbish. Its no longer funny, both FG and ASUU u guys are stupid, very very stupid, u want me 2 go bak 2 my old life but it wil not work 4 u. 1day my God wil vindicate and relocate me frm dis nosense place mistakenly cald a Country(Nigeria) instead of a Local toilet n a den of thieves
ReplyDeletedis wicked generation both d victims n d deceazed knwz hw 2 defend dem sef. See dem lawyers, panel of Judges. U guyz are all crazy includin FG n ASUU, i dnt blame u i blame d persons d@ wastin there time 2 listen 2 yur stories of who is right or wrong wen stds hav been rendered unproductive. I repeat both ASUU and FG u guyz are mad, u wil al die a terrible death if u dnt cal off dis strike b4 d end of nx week, yur generations shal remain slaves to d persons u tink u kept @ home al in d name strike n negotiations. Useless nogotiation, useless strike, useless FG, useless ASUU. U tink u can frustrate me? U wil 1st frustrate yursef n yur family includin yur generation
ReplyDeleteASUU were paid to go on strike.... by Political Rivals.... have they ever received 140Billion before... 40Billion for allowances only... excluding their salaries.... Nigerians Open Your eyes.... More Schools should imitate UNILORIN, Scrap ASUU
ReplyDeleteI believe we did not need to blackmail anybody before setting things on track.Is it posible to use a wrong way to force the FG to do the right thing?
ReplyDeleteIs this a forum to use insulting words for someone who only express his opinion, that shows the level of education we have in this country being controlled by ASUU whose president will shamelessly inform the whole world that Nigerian undergraduates of 300 levels cannot write a good letter. So the question now is; what are they doing in the classroom with the students?
ReplyDeleteits people like dis odion guy dat wud b eaten raw when d revolutions start,nigerians when will u be tired of dis govt,i think every other sector of dis country should join ASU and go on strike.You students dat are clamouring for ASU to stop d strike so u can go back to ur lives,if I may ask,what lives do u really av.d gov is taken us 4 fools and d only union dat has d boldness to finally resist dem are being criticised.are we not tired of d way things are?why are we an embarrassment to ourselves among d committee of nations? I Dnt only weep for dis nation I wail for some of its stupid citizens dat are slowing d hand of God
ReplyDeletePermit me to borrow this words from Hon. patrick dat says it is a pitiable disma pisma it is regrettably lugubrious dat even in dis 21st century someone like RBM IS STILL LIVING..... I FINK u belong to d 11th century era.. and a visionless Nigerian ... abeg go slip
ReplyDeleteOdion has said nothing wrong. He is right. Asuu should call off the strike.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that you are a borrowed vessel,even if ASUU is fighting for their own interest they really worth it,because come to think of it,the politician who are lavishing our money and resources pass through these people and they are collecting approximately N30m per month.All the federal university is a show of shame to our federation because nearly all of them has private university and can avoid to send the children to Ghana and oversea.At least Ghana educational system stands still for almost one year before they can revive it which now be what most of big Kabbas patronize with their children today.If it will take 1 year to put things in order in all the federal university,the strike should go on.The health sector is even the worst not to talk of infrastructure.
ReplyDeletePlease, use your senses. You just can't come here and comment rubbish. I'm totally stunned reading posts from student saying "ASUU should go on"...what a hopeless you are! It is now clear that ASUU is not fogihting for the poor state of the universities but their allowances. And I'm very sure that FG knows what to do(full payment of their allowances) to end the strike but won't do it........FG is not foolish!
ReplyDeleteUseless write up. So ASUU members should not ask for their right bcos they should be patriotic Nigerians?
ReplyDeleteHave u asked your govt why can't they pay ASUU and honor the agreement of 2009 in 2013 but prefers to buy bulletproof cars at inflated prices.
Useless article you wrote and useless you are.
God bless naija
they run other business ventures and dont carry out responsibilities? who is to blame?is it not due to our govt irresponsibility toward meeting agreement? why must our govt go into agreement they cant meet? and a responsible govt like this will say it was not made by his govt? trash.i graduated from a public school and our school deserve better,including lecturers and student. no be minister buy 2 BMW 255m? crazy place called Nigeria
ReplyDeleteHahahhahahaha I can si d anger of dissatisfied nigerians rising up to an explosive tempo.its only d hand of God dat is holding dis nation from slipin into a revolution,nigerians are beginning to believe in themselves and knowing dat if dey do nothing rubbish wil continue.from 1990 til now d leaders av stolen in trillions of dollars n for the 1st time in dis generation de is a strong push for diversion of funds 4 d right things and d leaders together with some ignorant followers are resisting progress being instigated by our most educated populace ASU.some of us are so used to seeing evil dat wen good starts to hapen in dis country dey don't even know.d hand of God av started to move.REVOLUTION IS UNTO US
ReplyDeleteAsuu should call off the strike and stop ruining our education system because of their selfish interest, they are lucky they ve a president like Jonathan that takes things easy, the best thing would be to dissolve ASUU. i belive those empty brains that claimed to be students supporting ASUU are those that goes to school just to answer a graduate. a well meaning student with an ambition will understand the bad effect of Asuu strike on them and support the FG to dissolve ASUU. FG should sack all the striking lecturers and employ those that are ready to work.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that University professors in other Climes do not go on Strikes? Because there the University system is private industry driven. Professors are so much involved in cutting edge research that they do not have time to go for nocturnal meetings in the name of ASUU or whatever. University teachers in Nigeria have all become politicians.One need to see the level of politics in the appointment of Deans and Heads of Departments to know that ASUU is just fighting for the selfish interest of their members who have become more of politicians than Academics. Shi kena!
ReplyDeleteReal brilliant students applaud Odions write -Up. The empty ones that do not have brains just condemn it. But intelligent ones see the facts and the argument or logic.
ReplyDelete