Fellow Nigerian University Students,
It has become imperative to communicate to the general public and Nigerian University Students on the lingering effect embattled with our educational systems especially at this crucial period of double dilemma consisting of the global outbreak of COVID 19 and ASUU Strike.
OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS
Our educational system, over the years, have been bedeviled with series of actions and inactions of the federal government and ASUU, with the failure to comply in accordance to procure the solution for a better and quality educational system.
On numerous occasions ASUU had embarked on indefinite strikes to agitate for their demands while the students (as critical Stakeholder) are subjected to bear the consequence of the aftermath.
Earlier this year, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) mobilized and directed its members for a ‘no pay, no work’ (Strike) should the federal government withhold the February salary of their members who refused to enroll on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), instead they proposed the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), with a claim that IPPIS would affect the autonomy of Universities.
We didn’t hesitate to intervene and draw the attention of the Federal Government and ASUU on the negative effects of Strikes on our academic calendar and appealed to the duo to shield their swords and find an immediate solution to the discourse. We went further to agitate and led a mass protest dated on February 20th, 2020 to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) complex in Maitama, Abuja, to demand that the 208 Billion Naira said to have been released for disbursement to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria be released to them. The fund according to the Secretary of the Institution was specifically for the improvement, provision and maintenance of essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning and also for quality instructional materials and equipments for research and publications, to enhance training and development of Tertiary Institution Staff. Our move to protest for the release of the fund to our Tertiary Institutions was necessitated by the fact that heads of these institutions hide under the disguise of poor funding to continuously increase fees in our Tertiary Institutions.
The government shut down all levels of institutions including markets and religious gathering indefinitely, in a bid to curb the spread of Corona Virus Disease across the nation and initiated a total lockdown on the 30th March 2020 in some States, to conform to medical advice.
Albeit the gradual easing of lockdown on business sectors including market places and religious gathering in concord with Health agencies preventive measures, we are astonished that there are no modalities considered by government on reopening our schools. It was with jubilation that the news regarding the reopening of Schools only for students in graduating classes (Primary 6, JS3, and SS3) to enable them prepare for exams, was received. Only for our frenzy to be awakened when Prof. Adamu Adamu, The Minister of Education, announced that Federal Government had reversed its earlier announcement of schools resumption and proposed an indefinite postponement. We are worried knowing that there were no communicated plans of a possible resumption of academic activities while economic activities are taking place. We are even more worried that our market places with informal structures are now filled with students who are believed by the government to be safe to either sell or buy, but are not safe to be in school with formal structures to learn. We have concluded that economic activities are allowed because they are revenue generating centers for the government but it is pertinent to note that a solution to the virus can only be found through research and research is an academic exercise.
It is no news that our academic institutions house at most forty percent of our students in her hostels while the remaining percentages have to rent apartments off campus. A continuous closure of our institutions would mean that a good majority of students would have a lot of rent debts to clear. It is also pertinent to note that post graduate students pay tuition fees by the number of years they spend in school. We want the government to consider the financial burden the continuous closure of our academic institutions will pose to students based on the mentioned.
We recognize and acknowledge the massive intervention of Governments, philanthropists, industrialists, public figures, religious leaders, media houses, health agencies and others towards the creation of awareness, palliatives distribution, provision of sensitization materials and preventive measures to the vulnerable.
We engaged in an emergency virtual meeting with the leadership of our sisters union (NAPS & NANCES) on 10th of July, 2020, in a bid to proffer collective solution on the reopening of our schools across the nation. According to George Washington Carver “education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” With crystal clear vividness, freedom can only be achieved through struggles.
RESOLUTION
The leadership of National Association of University Students under my leadership as the President, after well considered deliberations with both NEC and the Senate arm of the association resolves as follows:
1) That we are willing and ready to resume school as any further postponement may cripple the educational standard and rating of our dear country
2) That government at all levels should scrupulously scrutinize and sensitize our institutions for consideration.
3) That there should be provision and strict compliance for preventive measures as specified by the National Centers for Disease Controls (NCDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
4) That adequate provision of good infrastructure and amenities, such as water, hand sanitizers, sanitary facilities, fumigation, conducive hostels and lecture rooms should be maintained.
5) That there should be a provision for isolation centre in each school, fully equipped with adequate facilities.
6) That a failure to comply with our demands and highlighted modalities considered on reopening of our schools at the end of July, 2020, would aggravate a nationwide protest to press forth our demands.
We implore all structures of National Association of University Students (NEC, SENATE & CMC) and our Comrades community to be fully prepared for the forthcoming nationwide protest, if the demands are not met. Education is a right, not a privilege.”
Tom Bodett asserted that the difference between school and life is that, in school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test but in life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.
Post Script:
Adlai Stevenson II says Patriotism is not a short frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime The Nigerian students community is saddened with the irreparable loss of a patriotic leader per excellence, Late Comrade Sheriff Zadok Nnaemeka Eboh.
Until his sudden demise, he was a Special Assistant to the Governor of Anambra State on Students Affairs, his commitment and fatherly care towards the growth and development of the National Association of University Students (NAUS) and other students and youth bodies was unalloyed.
He also played indefatigable efforts in the formation of our dear association as one of our founding fathers. He was a trusted and reliable leader who appreciated loyalty and never compromised his promise and supports when pledged. We accept this fate as an act of God and he will forever be remembered as a hero in the emancipation of students struggles. In honour of a quintessential leader, we hereby rename the National Secretariat of the National Association of University Students to Comrade Sheriff Nnaemeka E. Zadock National Secretariat.
We pray that the Almighty God will receive his soul, forgive all his transgressions and comfort his family.
We wish to unequivocally remind you to please stay safe and strictly adhere to all principles and guidelines of government on preventive measures to contain the outspread of COVID 19 as health is wealth. Stay clear of trouble and immorality. Keep safe.
Yours in service,
Comrade Felix Simon Ijegalu
President,
National Association of University Students.
