With no end in sight to the face-off between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), students have appealed to the Federal Government to channel the same energy and seriousness on the school feeding to tertiary education, OMOJOWO AJOSANMI, SAMUEL AGBELUSI (AAUA), FORTUNE AMAECHI(ABSU) and TOSIN ODUNEWU (UNILAG) report.
The National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) executed under the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) is dear to the Federal Government. That is why it continues to attract huge votes.
Recently, the government said the scheme would spend N999 million daily to feed 10 million pupils.
Hajiya Aishatu Digil, who leads the NHGSFP, broke the news at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.
She noted that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, had got approval to spend N100 per pupil daily in the programme.
By this calculation, he said, 9, 990, 862 pupils from primary one to three would be fed with N100 daily for 20 days monthly, which would amount to N999,086,200 million daily.
In 2016, the programme was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari to address the problem of out-of-school children and tackle malnutrition among children.
However, despite the government’s laudable intention, students of tertiary institutions believe that if the Federal Government had released such huge amount to the Academic Staff of Union of Universities (ASUU), it would not have embarked on strike. Others noted that if it funds education like the feeding programme, it (education) would have vastly improved.
Joshua Chijoke, a student of Abia State University (ABSU), said: “How can the government be spending that amount of money on feeding when education is hanging on by a thread and students are at home doing nothing? I mean how can our government be so insensitive? They do not care about our education after all their children are abroad studying.”
For Vivian Iheme, a University of Abuja student, ASUU had been on strike for quite some time, yet the government seems undisturbed.
“How can they be spending such amount on feeding, yet hunger still ravages schools. ASUU has been on strike for some months, yet they are not perturbed, God help us,” she said.
Christian Onyisi, a student of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), said though students were awaiting the suspension of the strike, the government was looking at other things.
His words: “God help this nation. Students are all over the place waiting for government to accede to ASUU’s demands, but the government prefers charity work that is totally uncalled for.’’
Patra Onyeji, another student, said: “Why won’t they spend such amount? The money is in surplus and they are confused as to what to do with it. ASUU has been on strike for a while now and nobody cares. They are spending such amount daily at the detriment of other students, it is well.”
Ayo Genesis of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, said such amount was outrageous considering that ASUU is still on strike.
“It is so outrageous. How can we be out of school for more than three months now and government still has the courage to spend such amount on feeding and daily at that? Students are tired of being out of school,” he said.
Precious Samuel, a student of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), appealed to the Federal Government to reach an agreement with ASUU and ensure students return to their classes.
“We are pleading with the government on behalf of ASUU to put off feeding for now and settle ASUU because before you know, it will be till next government should look into this,” she said.
Akinbayo Monday, a Political Science student of the University of Benin(UNIBEN), said the Federal Government was giving attention to frivolities.
“Nigeria is a failed state. It is no longer news that the country we hope for is not what we are seeing.
“Look at the huge amount of money spent daily on school feeding, yet the demands of ASUU are not met; Nigeria is a country where what needs attention is abandoned, but unimportant things are prioritised. The administration finds it difficult to implement its 2009 agreement with ASUU, hence making the union extend its industrial action. It is sad that it can spend on a sham School Feeding Programme which has not proved to be a success since inception.
“The Federal Government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the whole issue is not far to seek as their children and wards do not school in Nigeria and if they do, some of them send their children to top private universities where they have an uninterrupted academic calendar. It is baffling that the government is spending close to a billion naira daily on sham school feeding programme while ASUU’s demands are not being approved,” he said.
Malumi Bolarinde, a Law student of the Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife,Osun State chided the Federal Government for approving such huge amount for school feeding.
Her words: “It is hard to believe that Federal Government is spending such amount of money on a school feeding programme. It seems we are being deceived. Which schools in Nigeria are enjoying the so-called School Feeding Programme? How can the government neglect ASUU but start attending to such frivolity?”
Agbudeloye Helen, a student, University of Ilorin(UNILORIN), said:”Federal Government is playing hide and seek with us(students ), as if we are fools. I have not seen a government as biased and unconcerned about the welfare of its citizens as this administration.Methinks the School Feeding Programme is fake. It does not know how to place its priorities, however, it is unwise to continue feeding pupils with close to a billion naira daily(a programme we all know is not entirely being carried out), while ASUU’s demands are unmet.
“If the Federal Government can spend N999million daily on the School Feeding Programme, definitely, ASUU deserves more. In essence, the striking varsities or lecturers are not demanding fresh money, let alone asking government for astronomical amounts that it can’t afford, government is dilly dallying. The union is agitating for the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement which include the following: payment of minimum allowance arrears, funding of universities and, great of all, accepting and deploying UTAS as only alternative to corruptible IPPIS that had failed integrity tests over the years. The government should place its priorities right.”
Aderopo Adebayo, an Industrial Chemistry student of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), berated the Federal Government for its non-challant attitude towards ASUU. “We are aware of the sheer negligence of government since the inception of the industrial action.This prompted ASUU to extend its strike. It will be three months in August. The strike was an avoidable strike, but government chose to foot drag. When will serious attention ever be given to the union?
“Presumably, if the face-off lingers and government cannot devise a way of tackling it, the university system may collapse before our eyes. Shockingly, Federal Government is feeding some unseen school pupils when the ASUU demands are unmet. What kind of country is Nigeria turning to?”
Another student Henry Ayodeji, said: “It seems government is not ready to provide adequate measures to save public universities. Spending almost a billion naira on a school feeding project daily shows that it is only concerned with what it wants and not the plight of citizens.
His words: “It is discouraging that government finds the school feeding project as a necessity, while seemingly leaving ASUU’s demands behind. This shows misplacement of priority. The demands of ASUU are clear enough and very realistic for the government to attend to. It is frustrating that this government is not concerned with the plight of students, despite incessant strikes by ASUU.”
Favour Ezeyanwu, a Mathematics student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), said lecturers have the right to be on strike as a result of government’s insensitivity. She urged the government to do the needful and ensure our education system do not remain backward. She said the cash for the School Feeding Programme could be channelled into other things for the benefit of education.
“There is every need for us to contribute to the growth of our education in this system, spending N999 million daily shows that this government does not prioritise our education at all. This money will definitely go a long way in addressing the needs of striking lecturers,” she said.
Ifeoluwa Adetimehin, a Biochemistry student of the University of Lagos(UNILAG) said: ‘’The situation is worrisome. It seems government is not ready to accede to the demands of ASUU. How can the government go ahead with N999 million daily to fund School Feeding project despite that the tertiary institutions are on enforced vacation following industrial action by unions.
“There is need for our government to have a rethink on this particular project and attend to our striking lecturers. This is getting out of hands as we students are tired of staying at home and need to get back to our classes. I hope the Federal Government will attend to their demands.’’
Emmanuel Adeyemo, a student of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, urged the Federal Government to act fast on ASUU’s demands rather than spend billions on unrealistic projects. He looked forward to a better response from the government, saying the demands of the striking lecturers need urgent attention.
“The Federal Government should stop implementing projects that are not feasible. If they can splash billions on School Feeding project just to feed primary school pupils, then they should splash billions also on ASUU for us to go back to school,” he said.
Olowookere Tinuke, a Mass Communication student of the UNILAG, said: “We have a budget deficit and we keep borrowing money. The government thinks it is wise to spend N999 million daily on school feeding, but cannot afford ASUU’s bill. It is laughable.
“I believe this is intentional. Keeping students at home is not normal. There is foul play somewhere. Is it possible that they are spending that money on feeding daily at public schools?” Jimoh Adesope, a student of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, said: ‘’If their claim of feeding the kids is true , then I think the government should extend its magnanimity to ASUU and solve this lingering industrial action. I wouldn’t ask them to stop feeding the kids, but they should find every possible means to end the strike as soon as possible.’’