Students from Nigerian tertiary institutions have asked the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities to embark on its planned strike, action if that is the only language the government would understand to force it to hearken to the demands of the union for improvement in the public University system in the country.
This is just as ASUU on Wednesday insisted the clamor by the union to address the rot in University educational system is in the best interest of the Nigerian students and the Nigerian project.
ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting is due to hold between February 12 to 13, before that, it has mandated various organs both at the zonal and local chapters, to hold mobilization and consultative meetings with stakeholders including observing one day as a work-free day in each chapter.
In compliance with that directive, ASUU union members met with student union leaders and students of the Moddibo Adama University Yola (MAU).
El-Maude Gambo, ASUU Chairperson MAU, Yola, said while they were there at the meeting to explain their frustrations,he it was important the students knew the agitations by the union has always been in their own (students) best interest.
He said, ” As a union, we are poised to fight on until government does the needful. We are proud to be the last union standing against the tyranny and impunity of power displayed in Nigeria. Ours is a union of intellectuals who believe that quality education is a right of every Nigerian.”
President of the Student Union Government of Moddibo Adama University, Yola, Comrade Jerry Dickson, disclosed after the interaction convened by the local chapter, of ASUU, in the institution, that it is in support of ASUU going on strike following the federal government’s continued indifference to honor the agreement reached with the union.
He added the student’s support for ASUU’s cause is total and unflinching, so long as the union’s agitations will help to tackle the challenges confronting the University system. He said students were opposed to any surcharge on the cost of University education that will put the children of the poor at a disadvantage in getting a University education.
He said, ” We think that if ASUU meant what they are saying, about embarking on strike to address the rot in the University system, then we don’t mind if the strike will last for 10 years. For example, in Ghana, our West African neighbors, went on a long strike that last a few years to address the issues in that country’s University educational system. If the Ghanaians did that, why can’t we do that here also?
These politicians who are refusing to hearken to ASUU’s demand, should not forget that we put them into those offices, to protect our interest and be there for us.
But now, after putting you in office, you are only interested in pursuing the selfish interest that is only beneficial to you and your family, neglecting the good of the masses. If you are advocating should pay at least N100,000 and above for school fees, where would the money be sourced. Because as it is, it is already hard for the common man in this country, to feed himself let alone fend for any child in public University.
So we the student are supporting ASUU on this, they should go on strike until the government meets all their demands and address the crisis in the University education by tackling it.”
