ASUU strike; the pretence by members that all is well!

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asuu

ASUU

Ubaoji Kingsley Ikechukwu

How did it all began? When did we get to this point or level of negligence and decay in our nation that no one cares? Parents, Students, Alumni, NGOs, Social Workers, Religious leaders, human right activists, etc where are you all? Just like that, selfishness became the order of the day.

This ASUU strike after Covid 19 era is the worst strike ever in the history of struggles by the Unions. The worse days may still be in the future until the nation finds her feet again. I’m hopeful this nation called Nigeria (united or divided) will still find her way to glory and by then, most who are actors today must have gone and forgotten. Then history will reckon on them as wicked souls for refusing to do the needful when they had the opportunity. They choose self over national interest.

The effect of Covid 19 pandemic brought the whole world on their knees and each country struggled to find a way to get their nation and economy back to life. In Nigeria, it was business and an opportunity to loot both home and abroad and acquire so much wealth which the generations unborn cannot exhaust. This quest increased the stress in the nation. People became more selfish in the name of survival while those who have the resources see increased population of people seeking help and got frustrated in helping further. This cycle of poverty entrenched by poor governance, quest for flamboyance and greed made it difficult for philanthropists to continue as before. Most people in order to join the class of the “well to dos” sold their soul to the devil to get appointed or promoted to a place of “honour”. With this selling out, wickedness increased as no one would accept you enjoy what he got from hell in exchange for his or her soul.

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Back to ASUU strike; during pandemic, there were lots of palliatives by good people of the nation and world at large. Both ASUU members and their dependants got supported by many. It reduced the burden on the striking members of the Unions (Someone may ask why strike to death, why not avoid strike and live? For another day please). Because of the pandemic, people thought about the striking members and then their friends and past students reached out to lend a helping hand. ASUU members requested we drag the strike until the issues between FGN and ASUU was resolved to an extent but in the wisdom of the Union leadership following feedback from different branches, the strike was suspended. ASUU over the years has fought with integrity but the members are still humans with sentiments, ambition and emotions. They have their ethnic, religious and political bias. The leadership does not dictate the strike but her members do. In NDC or NEC meetings, a lot happens but in branches, different things happen. Ofcourse, most elections are teleguided by whosoever is the Chairman and his convictions affect a lot. This is Nigeria and we understand the power of incumbency at any position in life. They may be part of national meetings but their individual ambition and desire determines how their branch would fare in the struggle.

You can understand why strike can be suspended prematurely or upheld. In this striking season, the ASUU members are not prepared as supposed because the effect of the pandemic, the economy of the world and Nation in particular and then the fact that people have become weak with struggles as long as individually they’re fairing fine. People hardly stick out their neck for others because 1. You can’t be so sure those who you stick your neck out for can be trusted going by the level of restiveness in the society hence possible betrayal 2. Selfishness has eaten deep that most people only loot for themselves and their family not minding if the whole world collapses. Either way, the striking members of unions are in a deep mess. The fact again that both couples and family members work in the University and have their source of livelihood from the same system that is saddled with NO WORK, NO PAY mantra by the FGN!

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Guess what? More than 5% of striking staff members are likely going to loose their lives or their dependants. I’m sure the government is comfortable with that, helping in depopulating the world as planned with Covid 19 pandemic agenda. This Covid 19 pandemic depopulation agenda is not the reason for this write up though.

With increased school fees, increased house rent, EEDC monthly bill that is 3 times higher than one month house rent of striking members (a story for another day), fuel and diesel costs that increased transportation fares in the nation, hidden charges by banks to impoverish the poor masses who knows the worth of N56 (fifty six naira), the network providers nko? Food ofcourse has become the major factor in depleting monies in people’s account. The list is endless. These therefore increases the stress on the striking members who struggles for a fair deal on education for the poor masses. Education we know is a sure tool out of poverty, slavery and anything negative. Enlightenment is key to growth, development and wealth for any nation.

With lack of education because schools are closed down, crime increases and budget for education keeps going down while that of security (no one gives account of security votes) keeps rising. Instead of government investing on education to eradicate criminality, they invest on curbing crimes by lethal means, …..
Do they invest on curbing insecurity? I think if they do, the police would not be agitating for strike too. Where then are they investing on?

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Sorry for the distraction, with the above increased stress and pressure on the striking members of the Unions comes inability to pay hospital bills or take regular treatment of some inherent diseases. These diseases definitely will escalate into deadlier conditions and then death. Who will bail the cat? Who will save these talents about to be buried in graves? Who is touched to intervene in these matters seeking for attention? I’m asking because my colleagues are struggling to live. They are dying in their numbers, begging for their stress to be reduced by anyone who can do something to help.

When we read about monies being spent on matters that could have been avoided, we just realize this nation is in a vicious cycle to doom with those who can save the nation doing nothing. The Church lost their drive too when money took over most leadership interest. Most realised money answereth all things and can solve some problems faster than prayers. In the bid to get enough for the Church, most church leadership got lost too.

Save us Lord in this nation. Save the people for who m You came to Earth to die for. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly for this nation has gone pass distress to red light alert mode.

May all the Angels and Saints of God, especially our Lady of Perpetual help intercede for us that Nigeria will experience from today an upward mobility in the direction of light and life, 🙏 Amen

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