OBIORA OKEKE: WHY STUDENTS SUFFER
MORE DURING ASUU STRIKE
Tertiary institutions in Nigeria have witnessed
in recent time incessant closures due to
industrial strike actions. The effect of these
repeated closures of schools and academic
programs on students learning effectiveness
can better be imagined than described.
Tertiary education in Nigeria has thus suffered
tremendous setbacks as a result of industrial
actions by both the academic (ASUU), the non
academic staffs and other labour unions.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities is a
Nigerian union of university academic staff,
founded in 1978. ASUU succeeded the
Nigerian Association of University Teachers
formed in 1965 and covering academic staff in
all of the Federal and State Universities in the
Nation.
The union have been active in struggles
against the Government since 1980s in order
obtain fair wages and university autonomy
which has led to series of strike actions that
has crumbled the Tertiary Education System.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) on Sunday 4th November,2018
commenced another indifinite strike over the
failure of the government to fully implement
the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, the 2013
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and
other necessities.
This disagreement between government and
the academic unions which has brought a halt
to academic activities in most Nigerian Public
Universities, often result in deadlock that
usually tells hard mostly on student.
Students are subjected to pitiable conditions
which has destroyed certain things.
The Strike action has actually resulted to
disruption of academic programs. When
learning is suspended for a period of time,
there's tendency of loosing interest as many
students desire certificates today other than
knowledge. It has been proven that students
perform less in examinations after returning
from a strike period. Most student do not read
during strike periods, while others tend to
forget key points from lectures as a result of
the long wait between lectures and
examinations.
Many students have actually received
undeserved extension in their study years as a
result of disruption in the academic calendar.
During strike actions, the academic calendar
will be altered because certain things will be
on hold. This will result to an extension which
will only tell hard of the students as many
ends up studying 4 years program for 5 - 6
years.
Lost of concentration on academic programs
is a vital effect of strike actions. Most
students have secured jobs or other means of
generating money and does not wish the
strike to be called off soon. This has made
them loose interest and concentration in
academic program thereby resulting to an
increase in dropout rate which is very harmful
to the economy.
Despite the poor research and innovation
capability of Nigerian universities, incessant
strike will continue to jeopardise the research
they are undertaking. The kind of research and
development activities that can put Nigeria in
the league of developed nation cannot take
place in a disruptive environment like the one
we are currently witnessing in our universities.
Consequently, students academic performance
has comparatively become so low while
various forms of examination malpractice are
on the increase.
It is said that "an Idle man is the Devil's
Workshop". Strike actions also has the
tendency of leading students into some social
vices like robbery, prostitution, oil bunkering
etc.
As an old African proverb states: “When two
elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers
most." The same is applicable here. While
ASUU and FG fight in disagreement, the effects
tells hard on students.
My Recommendation:
- Re-evaluation of the education sector.
- Factors that often lead to strike actions
should be addressed.
- The third man should always be considered
while making drastic decision such as
embarking on strike.
- Education should be properly and
adequately funded to encourage effective
research and to avoid brain drain.
- Government shouldn't dishonour any
agreement reached with any union.
- Some strike actions should be averted as
room for renegotiation should be welcomed.
If all these recommendations and many more
are considered, then there'll a reduction in
strike rate in the country.
I therefore appeal to ASUU and Federal
Government to see reasons in speeding up
actions in resolving and implementing of the
MoU and joint agreement between them to
rescue the nation’s educational system.
Thank You.
Obiora Okeke
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
Umudike
Tuesday 13th November, 2018.
MORE DURING ASUU STRIKE
Tertiary institutions in Nigeria have witnessed
in recent time incessant closures due to
industrial strike actions. The effect of these
repeated closures of schools and academic
programs on students learning effectiveness
can better be imagined than described.
Tertiary education in Nigeria has thus suffered
tremendous setbacks as a result of industrial
actions by both the academic (ASUU), the non
academic staffs and other labour unions.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities is a
Nigerian union of university academic staff,
founded in 1978. ASUU succeeded the
Nigerian Association of University Teachers
formed in 1965 and covering academic staff in
all of the Federal and State Universities in the
Nation.
The union have been active in struggles
against the Government since 1980s in order
obtain fair wages and university autonomy
which has led to series of strike actions that
has crumbled the Tertiary Education System.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) on Sunday 4th November,2018
commenced another indifinite strike over the
failure of the government to fully implement
the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, the 2013
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and
other necessities.
This disagreement between government and
the academic unions which has brought a halt
to academic activities in most Nigerian Public
Universities, often result in deadlock that
usually tells hard mostly on student.
Students are subjected to pitiable conditions
which has destroyed certain things.
The Strike action has actually resulted to
disruption of academic programs. When
learning is suspended for a period of time,
there's tendency of loosing interest as many
students desire certificates today other than
knowledge. It has been proven that students
perform less in examinations after returning
from a strike period. Most student do not read
during strike periods, while others tend to
forget key points from lectures as a result of
the long wait between lectures and
examinations.
Many students have actually received
undeserved extension in their study years as a
result of disruption in the academic calendar.
During strike actions, the academic calendar
will be altered because certain things will be
on hold. This will result to an extension which
will only tell hard of the students as many
ends up studying 4 years program for 5 - 6
years.
Lost of concentration on academic programs
is a vital effect of strike actions. Most
students have secured jobs or other means of
generating money and does not wish the
strike to be called off soon. This has made
them loose interest and concentration in
academic program thereby resulting to an
increase in dropout rate which is very harmful
to the economy.
Despite the poor research and innovation
capability of Nigerian universities, incessant
strike will continue to jeopardise the research
they are undertaking. The kind of research and
development activities that can put Nigeria in
the league of developed nation cannot take
place in a disruptive environment like the one
we are currently witnessing in our universities.
Consequently, students academic performance
has comparatively become so low while
various forms of examination malpractice are
on the increase.
It is said that "an Idle man is the Devil's
Workshop". Strike actions also has the
tendency of leading students into some social
vices like robbery, prostitution, oil bunkering
etc.
As an old African proverb states: “When two
elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers
most." The same is applicable here. While
ASUU and FG fight in disagreement, the effects
tells hard on students.
My Recommendation:
- Re-evaluation of the education sector.
- Factors that often lead to strike actions
should be addressed.
- The third man should always be considered
while making drastic decision such as
embarking on strike.
- Education should be properly and
adequately funded to encourage effective
research and to avoid brain drain.
- Government shouldn't dishonour any
agreement reached with any union.
- Some strike actions should be averted as
room for renegotiation should be welcomed.
If all these recommendations and many more
are considered, then there'll a reduction in
strike rate in the country.
I therefore appeal to ASUU and Federal
Government to see reasons in speeding up
actions in resolving and implementing of the
MoU and joint agreement between them to
rescue the nation’s educational system.
Thank You.
Obiora Okeke
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
Umudike
Tuesday 13th November, 2018.