FG-ASUU Agreement: Will The Truce Hold True.

The students of Nigerian Universities can at least now breathe with
some relief following the suspension of the long-drawn strike by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which lasted for almost
six months.
Regrettably, the hope, aspirations and expectations of many have been
dashed as a result of the loss in academic pursuit of students
nationwide through these months due to failure by the two parties to
reconcile between themselves.
It is sad that Nigeria as a country does not consider and prioritise
her education sector above others even when we are aware that
education remains the foundation upon which the growth and development
of any nation.
The question now is; why does this sector continue to suffer from
neglect and nonchalance from governments in the country? The answer is
simple: corruption has become a major problem that has eaten deep into
the fabric of the nation as a whole. Today, it has almost become an
offence and a breach of 'code' and 'conduct' to see public office
holder not indulging or partaking in one form of corrupt practice or
the other.
It is a pity that emphasis is not laid on crucial matters like
education in Nigeria. We should at least for once emulate and copy
standards from Western nations such as Britain and America in relation
to the attention their educational systems continue to receive. These
nations have recorded giant strides in their socio-economic and
political lives due to the fact that they made education of high
standard, available, accessible and affordable in their domains.
I believe this is also achievable in Nigeria especially with all the
human and natural resources that the nation is blessed with.
The poor funding of education and other sectors that will make life
easy for the common man in the society has for long been calling for a
better budgetary allocation and especially to security matters in the
country as crime rate is on the increase amongst Nigerian youths.
It is a shame that strike is synonymous with Nigeria's education
sector than any nation on the Africa continent. Even at that, without
shame we continue to answer the unmerited name, 'Giant of Africa.
I personally see Nigeria as a giant of corruption in Africa: it is
where corruption and injustice find fertile breeding ground for
terrorism and political instability. Imagine while our universities
and polytechnics were on strike, a ministry could afford to buy bullet
proof cars worth over N500 million for use by a minister and only God
knows who.
For how long shall we continue to suffer in the hands of some few
individuals called leaders because of greed and selfishness? How I
wish a law would be put in place that anyone in public office charged
with any form of corruption will be subjected to capital punishment to
serve as deterrent and give teeth to the fight against corruption in
the country.
It is high time the government and the Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics also come up with reasonable solutions that will put paid
to strikes by the union.
Finally, government at all levels should start seeing education as a
child of necessity and save it from dying by ensuring that
implementation of policies that relate to its development are
implemented religiously.
Source: NGScholars.