Students of the University of Jos (UniJos) have described as timely the planned industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to the students, the academic staff have done all they could, including issuing several warnings and ultimatums, to ensure their demands are met, but to no avail, hence their support for the strike.
The leadership of ASUU had already begun mobilising its members across all the universities in the country, premising the latest development upon the government’s silence after a notice was served to all relevant authorities, including the minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi.
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However, the federal government on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all outstanding issues with university-based unions.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that every effort must be made to prevent further disruptions in the nation’s academic calendar.
But speaking on Friday during an interactive session of the ASUU-Students Committee, held at the ASUU secretariat of the University of Jos, the Pesident of the Student Union Government (SUG), UniJos, Pwajok Kangyang, lamented the poor state of the education system in the country.
She faulted the federal government for not doing enough in averting the planned industrial action by the lecturers.
The interactive session was convened to inform students about the ongoing development between ASUU and the federal government.
She said, “As students, we are the primary beneficiaries of the education system in the country. It is certain that we are the ones that would suffer. I think that stance like this helps to further buttress why ASUU is doing what they are doing. It is very easy for us to go to the street or social media talking about what we think without interacting with them.
“Looking at the education system generally in Nigeria, it is not difficult to understand that the system is very poor. As SUG president, I have been to faculties where there are no seats. Sometimes, there is no water in the hostels. There is no light in the couple of days. There are numerous challenges. Government is not doing enough in funding the Universities.
“I believe this action is justified, especially since ASUU has followed due process, engaging in consultation, consolidation, and confrontation. Having seen their efforts over the past six months, including attempts to discuss with the Federal Government, arrange meetings, and submit documents, it’s clear that strike action is indeed their last resort. This suggests that the Federal Government hasn’t done its part.” the SUG President added.
She also called on students to reduce pressure on ASUU and instead channel their energy towards the Federal Government, urging them to release funds for universities, settle outstanding lecturers’ salaries, and improve the education system.
She further urged the federal government to engage in a roundtable discussion and listen to each other’s perspectives.
Speaking earlier, the Chairperson of UniJos ASUU, Prof. Jurbe Molwus, assured the students that they have explored all avenues to meet their demands, hence the need to keep students informed, given their stake in the process.
He said, “Perhaps, some of you are wondering what has been happening in the engagement between ASUU and the FGN over the past years that these issues are still in contention. Our union believes that it is lack of genuine engagement on the side of the FGN that is responsible for the lingering dispute.
“Agents of government have asked us to give them time on several occasions and they mostly never keep to the time, neither do they revert to us until they perceive that we are mobilizing, then they will begin to engage us again. Sadly, we still do not have any positive development to report to date.”
The chairperson, however, called on students to utilize all available connections to persuade the government to listen to their plight before it is too late.
