By: Divinelove Udorji
The internal strike that hit Nasarawa State University, Keffi on the 7th of March 2016, has crept into its first month and still counting. A four year course has promulgated into five years and still counting. Students are beginning to get worried as to what fate holds of their academic life.
Judging by what prompted the strike action and other surrounding issues, one is wondered to as if this is a case of greed from ASSU NSUK chapter or nonchalant attitude from the school management, but come to think of it! Did ASSU NSUK chapter wake up one morning and suddenly realise that the school management had been owing her arrears since 2009? Or that the funding of the university was poorly done? Or that the University Law needed some amendment? And that their promotion wasn't properly regulated?
Has there been any measure employed by ASSU NSUK chapter on how to get these arrears paid before now? If NO! Why were they silent all those years and if YES! Why didn't they go on strike before the issue escalated to this level? This is clear instance of treating cancer after it had ruptured, as it is a sure problem for the patient and the doctor alike, or could this be termed as a mere show of "activism" from ASSU NSUK chapter?
On the other hand could this also be a case of nonchalant attitude by the school management, as they have failed to pay up the said arrears despite the period of grace allocated to her before hand by ASSU NSUK chapter. Would the school management also claim to be ignorant of the said arrears owed the lecturers and the other surrounding issues? What measures were implemented by school management before now to nip the menace at its bud? as it clearly shows that ASSU NSUK chapter had exercised enough patience.
One needs not go into blame games, but it all boils down to the fact that, the educational need of Nasarawa State University Students are held in the lowest esteem by ASSU NSUK chapter, the school management and even the state government, to have allowed the issue escalate to this level without reaching a logical conclusion.
It is true that teachers are the bedrock of every society, it is also true that teachers help in shaping and moulding the minds of individuals in the society and they deserve a reasonable pay for their labour. Let's not also forget that NSUK students are the reason why ASSU NSUK chapter has a job, the students are also the reason why there is a school management in NSUK, without students there wouldn't be NSUK. The youths are also a large chunk of voters who elected the current government into power.
A Chinese proverbs says "If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people." The warring parties should give a second thought to their actions, as students are beginning to give-up on the credibility of our institutions in Nigeria, as it so glaring that with this continuous strike actions the destiny of the future generation is been tampered with negatively. Just as Frederick Douglas once said "It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men". As a society with illiterate youths, is a society with an epileptic future. Marie Curie further asserted that "You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individual". It is high time they come to a logical conclusion on this issue as soon as possible or which would they prefer; a hoodlum on the street or a gentleman in the classroom?
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