In this interview with MOTUNRAYO JOEL, ASUU Chairman, OAU Chapter, Prof. Adegbola Akinola, addresses various issues surrounding the strike
Students have complained that the strike is affecting their academic works. What is your reaction to this?
The truth of the matter is that people need to appreciate the content of the complaint that the union is making and the issues involved in this. You cannot eat an omelette without breaking an egg. We must make sacrifices. We can’t continue to pretend that all is well.
If Nigeria were to be a poor country, we would endure the situations of things in the education sector, but we all know that Nigeria is not a poor country. This strike is for the good of everyone. Some of us have children and wards in public universities, we too are affected by the strike, but something needs to be done.
But the students are saying that there should be other alternative apart from the strike.
What other alternatives do we have? They should come out and suggest other alternatives to us. Before embarking on an indefinite strike, the union embarked on a warning strike. But when that didn’t yield any fruit, the union decided to go on a full strike, after which the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the union. The Federal Government should then implement the agreement which the MoU enforced.
The union is seeking for a revitalization of our education system, equipment, lecture hall, hostels, and workshops. The Federal Government has the money to lift the faces of our institutions. Sometimes, we wonder what the Federal Government is spending our money on. Education should take priority.
How would you describe the Federal Government’s response?
It can best be described as continuous pretence. The union has tried to engage the Federal Government in different forms but all have been to no avail. There is no other way to handle things other than to embark on a strike.
Isn’t the strike contributing to the nation’s poor education system?
That is not correct. The reason why people may feel so is because they are not adequately informed. We need to realize that change needs sacrifice. The education sector is suffering because the Federal Government isn’t funding the sector the way it deserves to be funded. Those who are criticizing the strike should say if they would feel comfortable sending their children to public primary and secondary schools. But they prefer to send their children to public universities. Why is it so? It is because ASUU has struggled to make our universities what they are today. If ASUU refused to embark on struggles, our universities would have collapsed. We must appreciate ASUU’s struggle.
What will you do next if the Federal Government refuses to heed to your demands?
I believe you know again the theme of the strike, ‘enough is enough’. This strike is total, comprehensive and indefinite. If the Federal Government continues to pretend all is well, we would not keep silent. People who can afford the tuition and other expenses send their children to study in neighboring countries like Ghana because they believe education over there is better. However, we shouldn’t forget that Ghana once closed its universities for a year.
Today, their education system is better. Sacrifices must be made.
