Introduction
This week’s edition of Elvis Boniface’s Education Dialogue on Radio one 103.5 FM Lagos was an interactive discussion on ASUU Strike with two prestigious discussants, Modiu Olaguro, a lecturer of Mathematics Education, from Faculty of Education, University of Lagos and Mr Alabidun Mahfuz, an undergraduate from Lagos State University. It was an interesting discussion as the discussants justified the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU.
Below is the transcript of the discussion.
Presenter: The strike is ongoing. As a lecturer, what have you been doing?
Mr Modiu Olaguro: Primarily, we need to understand that the work of an academic is tripartite one. It involves teaching, research and community services. So with the current ASUU strike, the aspects of teaching and research have ceased. One might conclude that the research aspect does not completely cease, depending on the type of research one is conducting. As regard the community services, one could actually have time for the community services because most of the time they do not require dealing with the university. However, in all, whenever ASUU goes on strike, you discover that the bulk of the work is delayed. Therefore, the strike is not healthy for both the university system and the lecturers.
Presenter: Mr Mahfouz, as a student, it appears you are enjoying the strike.
Mr Mahfuz: ASUU strike is affecting many things in the university system. The students cannot do assignments, research and other things. One thing I want us to understand is that instead of sitting aimlessly at home, students could leverage this industrial action to explore other areas. What is going on is part of the university system students are expected to have become with it. When admission is offered, students are told that it is 4 years plus X. The X is what we are experiencing now. Smart Students should leverage the situation to undergo volunteered internship and learn new things.
Presenter: Are you saying if you had your way, you would have preferred the continuation of the strike?
Mr Mahfuz: No, if I had my way, I would never wish the strike continued because it is actually delaying many things. One of them is the academic calendar. Final students who are supposed to have started preparing for their national service are yet to sit their second system exam. In addition, those planning to move to their final year have had their plan truncated by the strike.
Presenter: I think your description of the pathetic situation at our universities is accurate. Mr Modiu, every academic have a justification for action. Why this strike?
Mr Modiu: There are several issues. Few of them have been resolved. Other major ones triggered this Industrial action. The paramount one is the revitalization of our public universities. When we talk of ASUU strike, we must understand that these people have the interest of the masses at heart. It is in the interest of the public. Our university system is in a serious state of decay. Most of the equipment in the laboratories is substandard, when compared with the ones in a high school abroad. Our libraries are outdated. They are not of the 21st century standard. Academics use stoves, gas and candles to perform experiments. Students who pass through this kind of system can never compete globally. The world has become a global village. When you talk of university, it is universality. All universities are expected to operate the same system.
Another major issue is academic allowance. I see nothing wrong in asking the government to pay for the lecturers’ extra workload. From my background in education, I think there should be a standard in the teacher-student ratio. I remember I discussed this issue on this station last year. The standard should affect all levels of education, including vocational centres.
Presenter: Do you have a ratio at your university?
Mr Modiu: Of course, we do. Let me conclude the issues ASUU is fighting. In the university system, we are supposed to have more of science students. Science guides the world. It drives every economy. Many things are not put in place. It is a kind of strangulation. Lecturers are overwhelmed; they find it difficult to exhibit their potential. There is also a problem of poor funding. It is saddening to note that the amount allocated to a university is never sufficient to fund a faculty. So, if lecturers are told not to embark on strike that they should remain silent and close their eyes to the decay, it will be difficult for them to compete at the global level. The lecturers are fighting to improve themselves and the academic life of the students who sit on the floor to receive lectures.
The Presenter: Thank you, Mr Modiu. As a lecturer, we expect this from you. It is no exaggeration that most universities need allocation more than some states in Nigeria. It is pathetic that the three private universities are far better than over 75 public universities.
Now to Mr Mahfouz, could you please explain the reason why students are quite over this ongoing strike?
Mr Mahfuz: I would not say we are not talking because we have a general voice – NANS- representing us students. We also have students unions who equally represent our interests. I am aware they recently visited the president. At the grassroots level, we talk to our lecturers. We visit them. What they tell us most times is that we should keep praying. We tend to appeal to them that since they have resolved some issues, we can begin academic activities. Our appeals have never been considered. They remain determined to get all their demands. An interesting part is that ASUU does not trust the administrative styles of Buhari’s second term.
Presenter: Mr Modiu, as lecturer, do you think strike is the solution?
Mr Modiu: I am also a victim of strike in those days at the University. Even I am still a victim. I have just completed my master’s programme, but I am yet to be cleared because of the ASUU strike. The strike is necessary. Our leaders do not care about us. Mr President’s children graduated overseas last year. You cannot expect same Buhari to take education seriously.
