Ajadi Sodiq
Seven weeks ago, the Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on an initial one-month warning strike. When this time elapsed without the federal government meeting its demands, ASUU announced an extension of 2 months. As usual, the industrial action has sparked lots of reactions among university students in Nigeria. Some days back, Independence Hall Press Organization sent out a form to get the reactions of the students concerning the ASUU strike. The different reactions were compiled and documented in the consequent paragraphs.
THE STUDENTS REACTIONS
Many of the students complained about the effects of the Federal government’s nonchalance, especially with the age requirements in the job market. In their response, a 200 level student of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ibadan, Olalekan Waleeyah complained about how the strike has disrupted her plans. “It has affected me basically in my academics and slows down things that ought to have been thrashed,” said Waleeyah.
“Only the educational aspect, there is a high tendency that I will use more than the given year for the course of study. With my present age, that’s a pure mess. Applying for a job role after school-related office work only, that’ll surely be a negative effect on me” Kingsley, a 200 level student from the Department of Architecture lamented.
Toheeb also added, “I’ll be clocking 25 this year with the hope of I’ll finish school before my thirty maybe I’ll be opportune to do my NYSC”
THE IDLE HAND IS THE DEVIL’S WORKSHOP
It is common knowledge that in times like these, students are advised to take on vocations. However, many have considered this to be unacceptable. Some of the students are newly admitted, and they could have chosen vocations instead of formal education. Students from various universities lamented about how they’ve been idle except for house chores and hobbies.
Omoyeni, a 100 level student of Geology, reacted by saying
“Many ways abeg, I can’t start saying them because I can begin to shed tears, could you believe ever since I got home I’ve been the one doing all the house chores all because I have nowhere to go”.
“I can’t even read as I do in school, how do I read when every time it’s this and that they’ll ask me to do at times I regret being a Nigerian” she added as she lamented.
Onifade Aishat also complained about Idleness in her reaction to the length of the strike. Responding to what exactly has kept her busy she said “Nothing ooo I’m just home sleeping and eating ”
STUDENTS ARE LOSING INTEREST IN EDUCATION GENERALLY
“I don’t think I’m interested in education again,”Ahmed, a student of Nasarawa State University, said in his reaction. He explained how he had written UTME three times already, and how he told his parents not to worry too much about his education. According to him, he will be focusing more on his AC repair vocation as a feasible alternative
STUDENTS CAN NOT CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THE SINS THEY DID NOT COMMIT
“This is to rescue our future and the tertiary education system which is our major concern from total collapse. Nigerian students can’t continue to pay for sins we never committed as we are paying for our education. We strongly believe that we deserve the best. At the end of every industrial action, ASUU members are paid their salaries; likewise, government officials in charge of education supervision get their pay”. The National President of NANS, Mr. Sunday Asefon said.
He spoke further and said “It’s only Nigeria students that get nothing, but a waste of everything, the house rent is non-refundable and the age count is irreversible.’’
According to him, the extension of stay on campus does not only affect students’ academic journey it also destabilizes their life plans, as many would miss NYSC mobilization due to the age limit.
