By:Tonie Osegbo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in their cause to
fight for what is their right has done much harm than good. Nobody is
against them in pursuing what they feels is right and justified by
them, but they should consider other aspects in which they have
crippled, abused, molested and disrespected.
This demand was an agreement made between ASUU and FG of 2009 of a
debt or finances and other provision from FG accumulating from 2006 to
2013 totalling N1.3 trillion with 2006 having N200B while 2007-2013
are having N220B. This cause is right because it was agreed, ”but in
the cause, you now cause many causes, it means you have caused more
than the cause”. This cause started in the first week of July and by
calculation, we are in the 6th month of the Strike, the cause have
crippled the education sector and all its activities which also
affects the economy of the country. This same cause, if am right, in
its struggle, took the life of Prof. Festus Iyayi of ASUU and also the
sack of former Minister of Education Prof. Ruqayattu. The same cause
have increased the high rate of engagement in Robbery, Kidnapping,
Rape, Prostitution and many other vices among the youths. The same
cause have caused much torns and divides in the administration of the
university system. The same cause engaged Mr. President in a marathon
meeting with the ASUU Excos that the President confessed that He has
never engaged in such a lengthy discussion even as a Deputy Governor
of Bayelsa state. The same cause have changed the total livelihood of
people earning or living from the small and medium scale businesses
they are doing within the university premises which can lead them into
cultivating in social vices or even persecuting them to poverty. Their
tactics with the FG of ”come today, come?tomorrow” is affecting the
lives of students, the activities within the school and the economy of
this great nation.
I am not against ASUU for the fight in which they are into, but all am
saying is that they should be considerable and look at the harm they
have caused or causing and find a better solution to tackle with it.
The FG on their own is doing what they can, they should also try in
finding a better and lasting solution to the strike and ASUU Excos
should also be considerable and not see the strike as a medium of
fulfilling their selfish interests and do things right and in a
considerable way and do not allow it to be politicized.
