FG, Stop ASUU Strike Wey Dey Come

Nigeria dey face wahala again as Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) fit start strike anytime soon. Dis no be new gbege; lecturers don dey complain for 15 years say since 2009 FGN-ASUU Memorandum of Understanding, government never dey pay dem proper salary, and inflation don chop di value of wetin dem suppose get. Past Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, and even di current administration, don still dey open new universities, but di old ones dey decay, lecture halls no get chair, labs no get reagents, libraries no get correct books. From 2009 reach 2022, students don lose more than three sessions because of strikes wey last months, some last eight to nine months.

ASUU don give warning say dem fit start indefinite strike from Friday as government never fix wetin dem suppose do, earned academic allowances, university revitalisation, and salary review. Nigerian professors dey among di poorest paid for Africa; full professor dey earn N500,000 to N700,000 per month, meanwhile South African professor dey take home N7.18 million. Nigeria dey spend less than 7% of federal budget on education while South Africa dey spend 19%. Every strike dey worsen matter; female students dey fall into exploitation, male students dey drift enter crime or small work. Experts dey warn say if government no act, brain drain go continue, research go die, and universities go keep lose relevance. Tinubu don show say money dey when government want, so di plea be say make government honour 2009 agreement, pay lecturers wetin dem earn, and avert dis strike before students suffer again.