Until Nigerian students begin strike…

Students are supposed to be critical takeholders in addressing the numerous challenges bedeviling the education sector in Nigeria. They are supposed to be a vocal and fierce pressure group that can make authorities to prioritize education.  Unfortunately, most Nigerian students, including the parents, are not after standard and quality, especially at the tertiary level, but […]

Students are supposed to be critical takeholders in addressing the numerous challenges bedeviling the education sector in Nigeria. They are supposed to be a vocal and fierce pressure group that can make authorities to prioritize education. 

Unfortunately, most Nigerian students, including the parents, are not after standard and quality, especially at the tertiary level, but the certificate.

On the night before February 14, 2022, the day ASUU commenced the ongoing strike, some students in one of the hostels of my school spent the whole night partying to usher in the ASUU strike.

For the fact that ASUU branches don’t commence strike, even after NEC decision, until each branch conducted its congress to reaffirm the decision taken by NEC; – this is how democratic ASUU is – on Monday, the 14th, I was supposed to have a class and I went for my normal lectures since our congress was scheduled for Tuesday, the 15th, but to my utmost dismay most of the students did not turn up. It means they were eager for ASUU to start strike. 

The government and its agents have clearly understood the “psyche” of students of “getting certificate at all cost and the knowledge can go to hell.” This is why it became easier for those in authority to incite the students and their parents against ASUU, portraying the union as the ONLY impediment for their graduation to get CERTIFICATE. 

Until Nigerian students robustly play their role as critical pressure group, Nigerian politicians will continue to trample upon their inalienable right to education.

Politicians have state resources at their disposal to enroll their wards in expensive foreign schools as well as the highly exorbitant local private institutions.

With this, the vicious circle of poverty and leadership will remain in Nigeria till eternity. The son of the have not will remain uneducated and in abject poverty, while the children of politicians will get the right education and become heirs of their parents as senators, representatives, governors and even presidents, hence Nigeria will assume the posture of monarchy with heir apparent; who are the children of politicians, the rich and those with access to the corridors of power.

Similarly, “juicy” government agencies and corporations will also remain exclusively reserved for the wards of the haves that are better educated and motivated. 

Nigerian students should quickly realise that they are the prime beneficiaries of the struggle for better universities and other tertiary institutions and they must involve themselves in the struggle as done by their predecessors in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Isa Sa’idu, PhD is of the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria