SIR: The last months have seen an impasse between ASUU and the federal government as to the need to consider in a more practical way the plight of Nigerian lecturers, the welfare of their families, and the overall well-being of the university system in Nigeria. The unfortunate sufferers in this ‘fight’ are the students and their loved ones, who watch sorrowfully each day the passing of time, from day to weeks, to months. The distaste in them could be imagined should one put oneself in their shoes.
It becomes even more worrying when discussions between ASUU and government constantly end up hitting the rocks. The gradually dying passion to study out of the curiosity to know more and discover new things earlier surging on in a newly admitted student propelled by overwhelming energy to learn, become a pain indeed to watch by parents, guardians, lecturers and more.
It is indeed a sad situation that our youth, the leaders of tomorrow, the backbone behind the possible attainment of a truly great Nigeria find themselves today. They are made to feel insignificant, unwanted. The after-effect of which is the point that they unconsciously begin to view themselves as persons to be toyed with without any serious consequence meted out on those who toy with them. A case of being defenceless and unprotected.
This state of things becomes even more pitiable and calls for urgent action when one sees how these kinds of strikes kill the love of country and the pride in one’s fatherland that our youth need to grow up with. For, they need to prepare from today to take up the mantle of greatness for Nigeria’s tomorrow. The people of Ukraine, faced with the challenge of possible annihilation of their fatherland by Russia, have displayed so much courage and love for country by willingly giving themselves to defend their nation despite the threat this brings to their lives. I wonder, God forbid it, should Nigeria be in such situation what students affected by ASUU strike will do.
The point here is that the unresolved strike is causing more harm than good, many of which are invisible, psychological, and internal damages. It is thus time for both the federal government and ASUU to rethink the whole issue at stake here.
In doing this we need to know the argument of ASUU and the counter argument of the government, so as to see where compromise could be reached. It is no longer time for mere talks, but time to examine issues critically, for the sake of the future generations of Nigeria. For the sake of those whose parents, guardians and families cannot afford to send to study outside Nigeria, and they are majority. Let us leave for a moment the campaign and declaration of our desire to contest for this or that office in 2023 and focus on resolving this dangerously planted time bomb.
Thus, it will seem a necessary way for the government to bend a bit as father and mother of the land, as in for example, to try for one year the UTAS proposed by ASUU to see how it works, since the government proposal has been tried and didn’t seem to achieve the goal earmarked. Let the second option be tried and after a year evaluated so that a more practicable solution can be attained.
This is however, not a time for a group to declare victory, nor a moment for one group to strive to show strength and authority to do and undo. Rather, it is a time to think of the greater good, what favours the move towards the greatness of Nigeria, what will reassure all Nigerians, especially the youth, the university students and their lecturers and families that the nation cares for them, that they are important. Let all who believe in the Nigerian dream (to be truly a great nation in every good sense of the word ‘great’) and sincerely love her, rise and work towards the resolution of this impasse. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
- Rev. Fr. Raphael Igbaoyinbo, MSP, PhD.
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