By Samuel Owooso
Nigeria Students have expressed displeasure on the lingering industrial strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and called on the federal government to meet the Union’s demands.
ASUU’s warning strike which commenced on February 15, 2022, ended on March 14 and the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) extended the strike action by two months, after the government failed to meet their pressing demand.
Now, 72 days into the strike, students have expressed their displeasure over the federal government’s ineptitude and unwillingness to meet Union’s demand to enable students return to their schools.
An anonymous student of Obafemi Awolowo University said, “Strike is a result of failed leadership of both the FG and ASUU as a body. To me they are both looking for what will benefit them and not the students.”
A student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akinolu Oluwatoloba said, “ASUU should call off the strike. The entire world faces massive inflation and food shortages, thanks to Russia Ukraine. The federal government care less about school infrastructure at a time like this with so many issues on ground. Universities should be allowed to use generated revenue for infrastructure while the FG pays salaries from oil sales and the rest.”
Also, some concerned Nigerians have also taken to their social media space to berate the N100 million All progressive Congress (APC) nomination and show of interest forms purchased by the Minister of State for Education, Chukuemeka Nwajiuba.
Many are of the opinion that the minister paid the outrageous fee amidst educational crisis in the country.
A Twitter user @IgbokweDavid6 said, “The minister of Education (State) just bought N100M APC presidential nomination form and ASUU is still on strike. Today is day 72 since students have been home. These are the clowns that deceived Nigerians in 2015.”
Another Twitter user @Only1Sanu said, “ASUU is on strike and the minister of Education is purchasing 100M form for presidency, wo nah after elections next year una go enter.”
Also, a user @Victor-Udo said, “There’s money in this country ahh
#ministerofeducation
100 Million for election
O thousand for education
Election form rush hour”
