ASUU Strike 2017: Politicians Are Smarter Than Professors

Nigerian students woke this morning to the news of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria. It would be noteworthy to inform you that ASUU has a formidable striking force than the Nigerian Air Force; having struck over 12 times in the last 17 years. How many air strikes has the Nigerian Air force made?

The recent strike by ASUU is in furtherance of Government’s inability to meet up with her MoU signed in 2009. The MoU seeks inter alia to promote the welfare of Lecturers and put them at the same financial spotlight with at least a Local Government Chairman. 

This is an agreement signed by professor and politicians but it seems the politicians have better knowledge of history and are smarter than the professors to have delayed honoring the agreement till this date.

But does this justify the incessant disruption of Academic activities in our Universities? No! Strike may be the only language Nigerian government hears, but it is definitely not a language they understand. The effect of strike in Nigeria is just a palliative measure rather than a curative measure to any problem whatsoever.

You cannot continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different result; that’s foolishness. A history of ASUU strike as shown below will suffice to buttress the fact that ASUU has continued to use an inefficacious means to reach the government(as of that’s the goal).

Table 1: ASUU Strike history from 1999 to 2017

	Year	Length of strike
1	1999	5 months
2	2001	3 months
3	2002	2 weeks
4	2003-2004	6 months
5	2005	3 days
6	2006	1 week
7	2007	3 months
8	2008	1 week
9	2009	4 months
10	2010	5 months
11	2011-2012	3 months
12	2013	6 months
13	2017	How long?

The emergence and boom of the oil economy has deprived most elite Nigerians of the sense of self. No organization in Nigeria looks inward for means of livelihood or sustenance. Why would an institution of learning that churns out over 3000 graduates every year be economically stranded? Why would an institution with reputable graduates in high strata continue to lick the sores of corrupt politicians so as to sustain the abysmal state of education?

There are 1001 ways through which an institution of learning can be self-sustaining but that is a discussion for another day. With a BSc, MSc, PhD crowned with professorship and you still operate a single stream of income institution? You have failed the certificates that bear your name.

A University that has stayed over 10 years under support from Nigerian government is old enough to take flight. We cannot continue to be held ransom at each time in life because ASUU is broke. The government should hands off universities totally and allow the institution to be self-run by those who are better qualified. Government should rather maintain supervisory role rather than the spoon-feeding role.

This approach may appear to make education expensive, but the answer is No. The Alumni of most prestigious institutions can cater for the extra cost of education. Students upon admission should be made to sign a pact that they would donate 5% of their monthly earning back to the school for double the period of years they spent in school. While this is going on, a yearly license of graduation should be given (By the way, how many Nigerian universities issue certificate within the first year of graduation?).

ASUU should rise up to her responsibility of being think-tanks producing like mind and not an association of ass-licking corrupt group.

Once again I ask you; are our politicians smarter and more intelligent than our professors?

On the other hand, I heard ASUU got infuriated when they heard how much Dizieani Alison Madueke had stolen and is refunding the government!

Ujah Jideofor is a software developer based in Enugu.