And the government blinked

When Minister Eze Nyesom Wike who has proved himself as a local warrior decided to read ASUU’s simple demands that the MoU be endorsed by a Minister, and thought he could wage a press war given the fact that all previous strategies to pitch the nation against the teachers failed, came hard with his threat […]

When Minister Eze Nyesom Wike who has proved himself as a local warrior decided to read ASUU’s simple demands that the MoU be endorsed by a Minister, and thought he could wage a press war given the fact that all previous strategies to pitch the nation against the teachers failed, came hard with his threat of mass sack and the lie that ASUU came up with new demands, little did he know that the turf is not the familiar Rivers’ political arena where, with the support of federal might, he even if unsuccessfully is challenging Rotimi Amaechi, the state Governor and Wike’s benefactor.
We have a people argued several times that the governments that we have had in this country are not serious with education and yet they keep singing that by 2020, Nigeria would be one of the top 20 economies in the world. This is a joke given the perception of those who hold state power on the most critical ingredient of economic, social and political development, education.
When countries like the United States, China and Japan still deploy substantial portion of their revenue in funding education, ours in Nigeria delight in buying exotic cars for its ministers and pilferages. Every day, one government agency or official accuses the other of either shortfall in recording revenue or something in that range.
Education is a priority even to those that already see the light talk less of those that are still in the deep of the ‘cave’. In my view, this unfortunate development which is spearheaded by a ruling class that was equally a beneficiary of the benevolence of earlier state is careless about reproducing the future. Yes, reproducing the future in view of the fact that it is the responsibility of today to determine tomorrow. This is best done when massive care and concern is given the education sector.
It is no news in this country that public school system at both primary and secondary is almost dead given the fact that despite the huge budgetary claims, it is clear that little or nothing in reality goes to the service of schools. This is the situation that the universities are already into and it is my belief just like those of my other colleagues that the solution lies in the ability and capacity of the university teachers to face men in power squarely.
This we have done through the proactive leadership of ASUU and I am happy that Nigerians saw reason with our agitation and refused to fall to government’s cheap blackmail expressed through several channels.
As a parent, I am worried about the quality of education that our children get in Nigerian universities. In the heat of this action, I was confronted by many parents who simply saw no reason with ASUU because their children are draining their food reserves at home. I often ask parents the critical question as to whether they are genuinely concerned with their children properly educated in the university or just to go to school and graduate at the end of the course even if half empty.
Very frightening statistics from some professional bodies that register students into their folds after graduation. There was this report from the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council a few years ago to the effect that most of those who graduated from Nigeria’s medical colleges were half empty. This is not only frightening but horrific and dangerous to the immediate future.
I am of the view that what ASUU stand for is the highest level of intellectual nationalism that any citizen could express and deploy. I am of the view that we must not continue to deceive ourselves that we are reproducing capable young people for the future when in reality the universities are a shadow of their old self. Infrastructures have completely broken down and space is in acute shortage. Young Nigerians who qualify and are desirous of university education must have the connections to be admitted otherwise they are out of school.
In all societies that are serious and with resources far less than what Nigeria has, every able bodied young man and woman who is qualified and desirous of university education has a space. In those countries, the problem may be rate of dropout of school and not space.
In Nigeria, every year in the last over two decades, less than 30% of competent and qualified young people mostly those who are well connected end up accessing university spaces. How do you achieve or win patriotism from such a teaming young people that are thirsty for education and qualified but for the poor policy or the lack of it by those in political authority, they are unable to be admitted and most of them end up as anti-social elements in the society!
These are the issues we are talking about. I agree that the rot has accumulated over time but one thing that is certain is that efforts to correct the situation have been treated with kid gloves. Government must invest massively in the educational system if it is to reduce the disturbing anti-social trend going on around the country.
Boko Haram, Niger Delta militancy, kidnapping, violence that result in killing and mayhem at the slightest opportunity are incidences that have their roots in the failure of the nation’s educational system. A nation whose 75% of its population is below the age of 36 years and where 0vver 40% of the population is below the age of 16 years, the most critical efficacy of public policy must center on education. This is the reality if we are bequeathing a future of peace and prosperity to those that are young and unborn.
This piece solidarizes with ASUU and its leadership for the heroic stand and victory in rejuvenating the nation’s educational system is in sight. Government must be reasonable and responsible and save the nation and its future by properly giving education its proper place in the process of governance. 
Great ASUU, Great Nigeria. Long live the struggle for the betterment of Nigeria.