Many Nigerians have joined their voices to condemn the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ongoing strike which Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB described as unnecessary.
Oloyede had recently in Ilorin during the flag-off and presentation of equipment, facilitated by JAMB, at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) described the public universities lecturers’ industrial action as unnecessary.
However, the JAMB’s chief executive officer on Wednesday, June 29 pleaded with ASUU to call off the strike. He called on the lecturers to call off the ongoing industrial action which is already in its 4th month.
According to him, the incessant strike by the university lecturers was capable of causing irreparable damage to the affected students and even the nation’s economy.
“While acknowledging the fact that the primary responsibility of reasonable funding of public health and education institutions lies on the proprietors-the government, may I seize this opportunity to call on the employers, university-based labour unions to appreciate the irreparable damage of incessant strikes on not just the students but also the nation,” he said.
He called on the striking lecturers to call off the ongoing industrial action which is already in its 4th month.
Read also: Ngige not cause of ASUU strike, says labour ministry
Anthonia Umezuruike, a para-medics disclosed to BusinessDay that though she supported the lecturers initially, but by the look of things, they seem insensitive even in the quest for their rights.
“Yes, I was supporting ASUU before, but I think they should have a change of mind and attitude towards the quest for their rights.
“Of what gains will it be to them to have these students’ future distorted on the altar of strike and egotism?,” she asked.
In the views of Makinde Olowu, a public servant, the incessant industrial actions by ASUU and its partners in business is actually an ill wind that blows no one any good.
“The politicians are the worst enemies of Nigeria, but ASUU should have considered parents and students who are at the receiving end and soften their demands and end the strike,” he said.
Ahmed Haruna, a student of one of the federal universities lamented the havoc the strike has caused to his life’s goals and that of others students affected.
“It is quite an apology that one can no longer plan when he or she can graduate from a Nigerian public university. Four months are wasted on strike, and afterwards, they will settle and leave the students to bear the brunt,” he said.
For Rebecca Samuel, a mother and trader in Oshodi market, these lecturers are not really sincere with themselves and Nigeria.
“How come the lecturers are crying foul, are they not the ones that served as returning officers during elections in 2019. Now the Buhari they rigged in is dealing with them and they expect us to pity them.
“I will not be surprised if they are settled later because the politicians will need them to conduct elections in 2023 and they will foolishly rig another set-in and come back crying. In fact, to me, ASUU is not serious, they should call off the strike,” she said.
ASUU had embarked on strike on February 14 over the federal government’s failure to implement previous agreements both parties had entered into.
In March 14 ASUU announced a rollover of the strike for federal government’s failure to address their demands.
In May , Emmanuel Osodeke, the national president of ASUU declared an extension of the strike.
According to Osodeke, “The development the extension took effect from Monday, May 9, adding that the union took the decision after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja.”
Dele Ashiru, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter chairman of ASUU informed BusinessDay that the extension of the strike became necessary because the federal government have refused to meet with the striking lecturers to dialogue on how to put an end to the impasse.
“The federal government has demonstrated lack of commitment and irresponsibility to Nigeria tertiary education and the teeming Nigerian students who are at home due to the strike.
“We are extending the strike to give the federal government ample time to put its house in order,” Ashiru said.
In a similar vein, Ifeanyi Abada, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka chapter chairman said that ASUU is ever ready and willing to go back to classroom but that it is unfortunate the federal government through the minister of labour is deceiving the people.
“It is not by talking, the federal government is deceiving the people. For instance, the president recently stated that he is not aware ASUU is on strike. That simply depicts that minister and other government agents have not been sincere with the union and Nigerians all the while.
“It is no longer a matter of signing MoU/MoA, but all about implementation. And for this to be, all hands must be involved.
“Just like President Goodluck Jonathan did in his time, President Muhammadu Buhari or his vice should invite ASUU for a negotiation.
“It is better for us to sort it out now once and for all, and the presidency must be involved in the negotiation.
“We are ready to go back to the classroom, but needful must be done,” Abada said.
