As different reactions continue to trail the ongoing ASUU strike, opinions among Nigerians also remain divided. Some support ASUU as they continue the strike while others want ASUU to make a compromise in their demands so that students can go back to school. Some have even gone a step further to accuse ASUU of selfishness.
Read on below:
A section of Nigerians are beginning to run out of patience over the lingering ASUU strike that has kept students at home for more than a month.
Even though opinion is divided by Nigerians over the strike, some Nigerians have opined that pointing accusing fingers at anybody as a result of the ongoing strike will yield little or no positive results.
Recall that President Goodluck Jonathan and his cabinet members, especially, the Minister of Finance and Education have been at the receiving end since the strike action commenced. Even though the presidency has allayed fear that the agreement which was signed under a different administration would have adverse effect on the nation’s economy, President Jonathan has accepted to bear responsibility for the ongoing strike action and has appealed to the aggrieved lecturers to go back to classroom while the negotiation continues, or better still make a reasonable attempt at shifting ground.
With several appeals from the government and other well meaning Nigerians on the need for the Academic body to resume work, many Nigerians are of the opinion that ASUU would have relaxed its decision and considerably shift ground.
Our correspondent, Adoyi Ali who spoke to a section of Nigerians over the ongoing strike got the following reactions;
One Kevin Adah said ” This appears to be one of the most selfish protests I have ever witnessed as a Nigerian. Ideally, the lecturers do not even deserve any form of pay rise, having delivered below expectation over time. We all know these lecturers. What do they teach? How can they keep thousands of Nigerians at home because of their own selfish desire. I had thought that people go into dialogue so they can harmonise. Why don’t they want to shift ground. ASUU can’t hold all of us to ransom. It’s high time Nigerian students rose against ASUU’s selfish demands.”
John Maths, an IT expert and Mathematician who spoke to our correspondent from Lagos said that ASUU was clearly on the right path as the outstanding agreement was long overdue. John said” the protest is a just one. This is an agreement that was signed since 1999 or so. Why hasn’t it been implemented till today? They deserve what they are demanding for.”
A correspondent with the Nigerian Leadership, Abraham Anthony reacted thus ” Our government is not ready to help the youth of this country. And the youth are too feeble-minded to react and act on their right to education. If the Nigerian youth are well informed of their rights, they would have shut the country down in a peaceful demonstration to demand for their constitutional right.”
Lamenting over the prolonged strike, Mrs. Helen Onyaibo said, ” ASUU must remember that even though their protest may not be totally out of place, their position appears rigid. I urge ASUU to shun selfish interest and call off this lingering strike”
A TV personality with AIT, Comrade Kross O. E affirmed thus ” My best take on the ASUU strike is best defined with the proverb that says, “when two elephants fights. it’s the grass that suffers”.
Kross said. ”Even though ASUU should consider it’s decision on the matter, Government should be blamed for all the crises in the education sector, including the incessant strikes. The unions in education sector are not making fresh demands. Each time any of the unions goes on strike, it is because the federal and state governments failed to implement agreements they freely entered into and signed with them. I read in the Newspapers that the Minister of Finance said there is not enough Money to meet the Demands of ASUU. If the National Assembly members can be on life pension, why won’t ASUU push for what they deserve? Nobody is a fool!, I feel for the students because I was once one.”
Amanda Mayas, a student of the University of Abuja had averred that ” We have been at home for over a month now, yet the issue has not been resolved. ASUU should consider the plight of the students and call off the strike. It shouldn’t be about just them and their demands, it should be about us too; the students”
Source: dailypost.com.ng/2013/09/03/asuu-strike-mixed-reactions-trail-lingering-protest/
Related: More news on ASUU Strike!
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