By Aliyu Idris
Anyone aware of the lingering strike in Nigeria’s public universities nationwide will sympathise with us students. Now it’s clear that students understand the government’s negligence and I-don’t-care-attitude towards the education sector because none of their sons and daughters goes to public universities.
The government that is supposed to take the necessary actions regarding the strike is showing a lackadaisical attitude towards it as if the education system is normal. Thus, the ASUU strike is not the topic of discussion today.
The government is hellbent on political affairs more than returning the students to their classes. Unfortunately, the issue of the ASUU strike has become a secondary matter to the government in national affairs, sad.
The strike has shattered the dreams of public university students. As a result, The graduation period of million students has been extended to another subsequent year(s) (I do not pray for that occurrence).
It’s an arduous task for public university students to graduate within the stipulated period allocated for their studies. Hence, almost every student’s ID card expires before they graduate.
The victims (students) of the ASUU strike have lost hope in learning and scholarship. Thus, since the government has failed to save their future, they have shifted their focus from education to other life activities such as businesses and learning skills to build their lives.
The statistics of students called up for NYSC in the camps nationwide is low compared to when public universities are not on strike.
The NYSC camps are filled with HND students, students from universities abroad, students from private universities in Nigeria and students from affiliated universities (FCE/CEO/Polytechnic graduates).
There may be the hope of fulfilling the ASUU demands soon (I pray) because I know the Nigerian politicians and INEC will need serving corps members to work for them in the 2023 general elections. However, until the strike is called off, the current corps members are insufficient for the election’s tasks.
The (our) striking lectures are not the problem but the government. May Allah put an end to this strike menace, amin.
Aliyu Idris is an undergraduate at Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via aliyuidris063@gmail.com.
