By Ehiwe O.Sam, Lagos Nigeria.
“Nothing changes until it is changed”. This dictum aptly sheds light on one of the fundamental principles in physics. The educational system in Nigeria as it is now will never improve until a definite step is taken to systematically overhaul the systemic, endemic and colossal damage that has for long corrupted its very foundation.
One of the most pronounced bane on Nigeria’s educational system today is the recurring and incessant industrial actions, strikes and boycotts that have ravaged the tertiary institutions. Strikes have almost become an institutionalized concept on its own. Students now calculate anticipated strike periods when computing the number of years they will be required to spend in school before graduation. In one word, It is frustrating!
ASUU was formed in 1978, the period of the beginning of the decline in the oil boom, when Nigeria faced the consequences of the failure of its rulers to use the oil wealth to generate a production and social welfare system .At this time, academic freedom and university autonomy were casualties of military dictatorship. ASUU’s orientation therefore became radical, more concerned with broad national issues and stood firmly against oppressive, undemocratic policies of the country. It is on record that government’s assault on academic freedom was the crux of ASUU’s resistant stance during the 1980s. In 1980,ASUU declared a trade dispute and made the issue of autonomy an issue in dispute. These actions marked the birth of strikes in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. In December 1980, President Shehu Shagari directed the council of the University of Lagos to remove six senior members of the Academic Staff Union from their jobs, following the Justice Belonwus Visitation panel Report. ASUU protested and continued to press for their reinstatement until 1986 when the Supreme court in its judgment reinstated the dismissed lecturers thereby vindicating ASUU’s position.
The struggle continued with radical and focus driven leaders of ASUU like Dr.(later Prof) Festus Iyayi and Dr.(later prof) AttahiruJega piloting its affairs in the spirit of aluta. These leaders were arrested and incarcerated for confronting the then military government. It also struggled against the Babaginda regime’s authoritarian decree 16 of 1985 which transferred to the National Universities Commission the power of the senate to determine, regulate and monitor academic programs.
Many years have rolled by, and the agitations have remained; the grievances have remained fixed like the rock of Gibraltar that will not be moved.
The strikes did not start today; they have always been part of our system. Here is a quick look at the history of ASUU strikes in Nigeria beginning from 1999:
1999---- 5 months
2001----- 3months
2002----- 2 weeks
2003---- 6 months
2005----3 days
2006---- 1 week
2007--- 3 months
2008---- 1 week
2009---- 4 months
2010---- 5 months and 1 week
2011---- 3 months, it spanned into 2012
2013---- 3 months
2017---- 2 weeks and still counting
A look at the trend reveals that it is not peculiar to any particular political regime. It is a systemic canker which has come to reduce our educational system to ruins. The impact of these industrial actions are indeed colossal. They include:
Battered academic calender
Delay in the release of admission list for candidates
Fierce competition for NYSC posting
Delays in obtaining masters and PhD for post graduate students
Lack of confidence in our educational system by foreign students
Increased crime rate in the country as idle students are left with no other choice but to resort to crime
Leads to academic tourism to other countries as students can no longer rely on the nation’s educational system to provide them a good education. The list is endless.
In conclusion, our educational system must be critically overhauled. Stake holders must come together and rationally discuss the way forward to putting this menace to a permanent end.
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