For most Nigerians, particularly parents of students in public universities, suffering continues as the hope of their wards going back soon to campuses has been dashed with the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
While most of the lecturers are opting out of the profession, considered neglected by government and are either leaving the country or trying other vocations, the private universities are reaping from the current crisis.
Investigations by metrobusinessnews.com show that most of the private universities have closed admissions to some courses like Law and medical sciences even before the end of the current session.
As a follow up, some of them have also built in other additional payments for ‘favours’ being dispensed to the few parents who have decided to approach them for admission, after waiting invain for ASUU to call off the strike.
The implication, according to some stakeholders is that the standard of education would be affected adversely as these universities might be tempted to go beyond their limits in terms of infrastructure
Specifically, while in some cases, tuition fees for laws hovers between N1. 2m and N2. 5m for relatively new and less sophisticated universities, other payments for admission forms , acceptance fees have been increased while other parents are now being told to ‘compete financially ‘ on the few available spaces.
“It is true that there has been upsurge in the number of admission inquiries following the ASUU, FG meeting that was deadlocked last week, but since Sunday when ASUU started its NEC meeting and for the fact it was obvious that the union would not bulge, the inquiries have increased. But one thing that is common now is that most parents are requesting for staggered payments beyond the existing arrangement.
Some of them are requesting that payments should be extended to the next semester and that their wards be allowed to sit for exams even without completing the payment, “ says a university lecturer, who pleaded for anonymity.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is said to be leading other public tertiary institutions in the number of lecturers resigning their posts due to the federal government’s poor handling of ASUU’s ongoing strike.In deed , Dele Ashiru, the UNILAG’s ASUU chapter chairman recently disclosed on Arise Television interview that about 70 percent of the institution’s best lecturers have resigned from their jobs.
Ashiru in the conversation reiterated that the federal government’s disposition towards university professors is disrespectful and insensitive.
“The impact of the government’s insensitivity and deployment of the weapon of hunger might not be immediately known until after the strike.
As I speak with you, more than 70 percent of bright and promising young academics retained by the university through mentorship have all left the country for greener pastures due to the poor conditions of service in Nigeria.
“Those that are left are on the verge of leaving.
No government in the history of Nigeria has been so insensitive, brash, and disrespectful of the best brains in the country. This is unfortunate and a shame,’’ he said.
Indications are strong that other universities are either experiencing mass exodus or the lecturers are planning to leave, a situation that will leave the ivory tower a shadow of itself.
MBN reports also that Emmanuel Osodeke, the president of ASUU had lamented the mass resignation of lecturers in most public universities due to the federal government approach of ‘no work, no pay’ which the union members considered insensitive.
“So many lecturers are leaving to engage in farming and others; lecturers are tired of the treatment they’re receiving from the government and because of this, they are looking for alternatives. So many more will leave even after the strike too.
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“I pity the country; Nigeria will be the loser for it. Instead of coming to the table; look at how they will solve the issue, rather, they believe in punishing lecturers. It’s so sad. Your lecturers went on strike, you believe they will become hungry and come back to beg. Many lecturers will also leave to venture into other areas; some are also looking at becoming self-employed,” Osodeke said.
ASUU embarked on a 30-day warning strike on February 14 to give the federal government the opportunity to address its demands, which the government failed to do, and the strike is still lingering after about 195 days without a clear direction of what comes up next.
