ASUU Strike:Right or Wrong?

Its been 4 months long since universities nationwide has been closed down due to the on going industrial action of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities,ASUU. Ever since,students have been sent back to their parents/guardians. NANS president and some youth leaders have been reported to have blamed the lecturers for the strike action. The lecturers are head bent on the continuation of the industrial action despite alleged threat to their lives and the 'no work,no pay' tactic of the FG. But,who is to blame? Let's look at the issue very critcally.
Usually,before an industrial action takes hold,there would have been a formal complaint made to the authorities in reagards to the problem causing the rift. There would be no reason to press further if the problem is solved promptly. But in a situation where the complain is not taken seriously after series of complaints are made,the union then go on a warning strike to register the seriousness of the employees' grievances. Employees go on full fletched,indefinite strike as a last resort.
Considering carefully the series of events that leads to the proclaimation of an indefinite strike action,you would agree with me that the 4 month long strike is very much preventable. Especially considering the fact that this agreement was reached since 2009 and Jonathan was very much in power as the vice president...at least (can't recall if he had become the acting president then). If you would consider the fact that Jonathan was once a lecturer too,you would now understand and appreciate the very high level of irresponsibility displayed by Jonathan's regime who used to be a lecturer himself!
I can not but imagine the great contrast between the feelings of the president when he was a lecturer and without doubt had participated in such strike action as a member of ASUU. In a situation whereby a lecturer turn president,a former educationist,would delay the implementation of lecturers' agreement with a government he fortunately now head for 5 years only to drag ASUU and Nigerian students into a now 4 months old industrial action and come out to blame it on politicking,one cannot but wonder what type of lecturer the president was during his lecturing days!
Was he a passionate lecturer that appreciate the value of education and the invaluable positive impact education can make on nation building or was he the passive lecturer that was in the education system simply for it economic gains...that is a food for thought my brother. Ordinarily,one expected that lecturers would enjoy the most and that the quality of education would be greatly improved. But,what do we have in our hands? A former lecturer as president who has refused to grant the laudable demands of his....former couleagues ( abi,levels don change na!),kai! This is very embarassing...a very big show of shame if you ask me!
On whether it is wrong for ASUU to go on strike,it has never been wrong.I mean,in a situation where your employer takes you for granted and treats you like a slave,it is only natural that you stand up for your rights and tell the bully of a boss that you are no slave and you deserve some respect which you have fairly earned through your work/services. This is exactly what the lecturers are doing right now and they need our support...even if their only demand is an increase in salary!
In a country where the ward councillor who,as far as I know adds NO VALUE to his community gets paid over N300 000 and his wife goes home with N50 000 monthly,why would it be a crime for a lecturer who adds value to his community on daily basis to go home with N500 000/month and his N150 000?!
Nigerians need to get their priorities right and fight for the right things. Our politicians are clearly un patriotic in their dealings. The money is there,let them spend it on us,they should meet ASUU's demands and give them the chance to prove themselves. If after meeting their demands,they still graduate 'half baked' products,then we know who to blame.
So the next time someone say something about the strike in your presence,you should know whose side you should be as a true patriot.
My heart goes to the students whose academic pursuits have been staunted as a result of this strike.I want you to know that this is only a little delay that is meant to ensure that you resume into a better academic environment,a much more highly motivated and happier lecturers and possibly a better training than you should have received. If you are in your final year,see it as your little contribution to ensuring a better university environment than you are about to leave behind. In short,I want the youth to see this as a beginning of a form of revolution whereby our political leaders are made to face their responsibilities as leaders squarely!
Right here,I rest my case and happy eidil Kabir celebration. Avoid eating too much meat,ensure you eat a lot of vegetables and fruits along with the meat.BARKA DE SALLAH!!!

Independence day,wetin we dey celebrate sef?!

Congratulate Nigerians on Nigeria's 53rd anniversery as an idependent state and what you'll get as response,most often than not would be negative. The negative responses are as a result of several reasons,but,in my view,the variety of reasons behind these negativity can be traced back to a MEGA reason of THE DISBELIEF OF THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE IN THE NIGERIAN PROJECT!
Most Nigerians do not belief in Nigeria,very few Nigerians are proud of their country. This is why we experience communal clashes in Nigeria,we don't see ourselves as one. Allow me to show you how this singular factor have contributed to virtually every problem we face as a nation.

I dare say it all began with our founding fathers that were responsible for the creation of the first 3 major political parties in Nigerian history. True,they joined hands to rid the country of British rule,but,unfortunately and sadly too,they were the author of our greatest problem as a country. THEY CREATED POLITICAL PARTIES IN LINE WITH TRIBAL AND ETHNICAL DIVIDES OF THE COUNTRY.As a result,people's way of thinking was conditioned along ethnical lines and unfortunately,we are still yet to break away from this evil and viscious circle of tribalism. Over the years,several criminals have been created from this tribal bias and we have refused to bring the culprits to book,guess why...TRIBALISM! This is why Nigeria have failed to develop all this while. People commit heinous crimes and should be brought to book but we disagree and shield them from prosecution simply because they are our tribesmen.
If a hausa man is caught,the Arewa Elder's Forum would stand by and protect him,when the criminal is a Yoruba,OPC would claim that if he were to be a hausa,he would have gone scot-free! The Ibos are like that too. This has been the case in Nigeria till date.
Despite the fact that Jonathan is not performing,ex- militants from Niger Delta would threaten war if he is not elected as President the second term. The Notherners too insist on the next President being a hausa,is that democracy please???
Personally,I have no problem with anybody from any part of the country becoming president,my problem,however,is lack of accountability on the side of our elected leaders. No one complains of lack of performance (if the person in question is of our tribe),rather,we busy ourselves with verbal tribal wars. It's quiet unfortunate we,the youth,refuse to see through the smoke screen (guess its too thick for us!), we do not realize,that all these talks of National Conference,presidential candidature of Jonathan ....etc are all in the interest of the aristocratic few and not in the national interest.
Tribalism born of our lack of faith in the Nigerian project is the major problem we face in this country. My clarion call,therefore,goes to the youth of this country,guys,lets wise up and network to make things happen. Lets shun all the fake,selfish and tribalistic conflicts manufactured by the criminals created through the ethnic and tribalistic political culture of the past. Its high time we started seeing ourselves as Nigerians and not as hausas,yorubas or ibos. Let us all denounce the so called "federal character" - a curse and enemy of progressive competitiveness that's enshrined in our constitution. And remember as always that NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS NEVER AND NEVER BE THROUGH POLITICS BUT THROUGH ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT.
I,therefore,implore you all to denounce your membership to political parties and connect,mingle and communicate with one another nationwide for economic advancement. Lets do business! For this is the key to National development!!!
We may not have much to celebrate right now,but,at least,we are still together even after 53 years of independence,that is worth celebrating,so let us celebrate and at the same time reflect on our experience as a nation so as to hatch a progressive plan for the future!
One more thing,help spread this message by taking just a minute or two to share this message with your friends on facebook,twitter,google+ and any other social bookmarking site you may belong to,thanks for your time.
God Bless you,
God Bless Nigeria @ 53,
happy independence day!!!
Regards,
Abdurrahman.