The ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may provide fertile ground for recruitment of frustrated and aggrieved students as political thugs buy desperate politicians as the 2019 general elections draw closer.
ASUU began an indefinite strike on November 5 to press home its demand for the Federal Government to implement the Memorandum of Action signed with it in 2009.
“This strike will be total, comprehensive and indefinite. Our members shall withdraw their services until government fully implements all outstanding issues as contained in the MOA of 2017, and concludes the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements,” Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU president had said at the commencement of the strike.
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Dialogues and meetings between ASUU and the Federal Government to resolve the impasse and get the university lecturers back to work have been unfruitful so far. Consequently, millions of undergraduates from public universities across the country are forced to stay home in a country where politicians are wont to use idle youths to ferment trouble during elections.
Adebayo Olulade, a student a federal university in one of the Southwest states, who had since relocated to Lagos where his parents are staying, said it was frustrating staSet featured imageying home and doing nothing.
“It is no fun at all. I have been home for about three weeks now. From what we have heard so far, it doesn’t look like the ASUU and Federal Government are making any headway in their negotiations. Twice or thrice they have met without a favourable outcome. It calls for concern,” Olulade told BusinessDay in Lagos on Tuesday.
Imohimi Edgal, the Commissioner of Police (CP) recently warned parents and guardians of the consequence of allowing their children and wards to be used as thugs by desperate politicians as the elections inch closer.
Sharing the sentiment, Ibukun Odusote, the Permanent Secretary (PS), federal ministry of labour and employment, appealed to ASUU to suspend the strike in the interest of the nation and the students
“If our children are sitting at home at a critical time like this, with the year coming to an end, and the nation preparing for a national election. The tendencies that they will start running into political groups for vices engagement are high”
“Therefore, it is in national interest that the on-going industrial action embarked upon by ASUU be amicably resolved through social dialogue for our children to continue their educational pursuit,” said Odusote, while addressing delegates of the African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) led by the Speaker Kewul Abel, who visited her in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Odusote said that the lecturers needed to make some sacrifices to guarantee secure the future of the youths.
