In recent years, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has used strikes as a central strategy to address longstanding issues in Nigeria’s public universities. These include funding, infrastructure, and academic staff welfare. Most recently, during President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, ASUU’s strike stretched for almost eight months, leaving many students and their families in limbo. Unfortunately, despite the length and sacrifice involved, the strike did not fully achieve its purpose. This raises a crucial question: Are prolonged strikes still an effective strategy to achieve meaningful change in Nigeria’s education sector?
ASUU’s grievances are legitimate. Nigeria’s university system has suffered from years of underfunding, deteriorating infrastructure, and inadequate salaries for academic staff. The quality of education is at risk, and university lecturers are caught in a challenging situation where they are tasked with producing world-class research and teaching with minimal resources. However, as we look back at the eight-month strike during the Buhari administration, it’s essential to question whether this traditional method of strike action still has the impact ASUU hopes for.The Consequences of Prolonged Strikes
The ASUU strikes have undoubtedly brought attention to the plight of the education sector, yet their extended nature has frequently been met with criticism. For students, strikes mean extended periods of uncertainty, and, in many cases, they disrupt academic progress and force families into financial strain. For young people with dreams of completing their degrees on time and entering the job market, repeated strikes mean delays in their plans and aspirations. Nigeria is already grappling with high youth unemployment, and each academic disruption only makes it more challenging for young people to enter the workforce with relevant skills.
From an economic perspective, the longer students stay in school due to strike-related delays, the greater the burden on families and the economy as a whole. Additionally, each disruption lowers Nigeria’s educational reputation, making it less attractive for international students and partnerships.
A Need for Alternative Approaches
Given the track record of the recent ASUU strike, it may be time for the union to reconsider its approach. While industrial action has been the primary tactic, exploring other methods might help ASUU achieve its goals without placing such a significant burden on students and their families. Options like lobbying for stronger political advocacy, forming alliances with other educational stakeholders, and enhancing public awareness about the issues facing universities might yield more sustainable solutions.
For instance, public campaigns could create greater pressure on the government to increase its commitment to the education sector. ASUU could also collaborate with civil society organizations, student unions, and private sector players who have a vested interest in improving Nigeria’s education system.
A Call to Action
ASUU has the right intention: improving the quality and conditions of Nigeria’s public universities. However, after nearly eight months without achieving substantial change, the time has come to rethink the strategy. Rather than repeating a method that has not yielded the desired outcomes, ASUU might consider leveraging public support in other ways that will capture the government’s attention.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s education system needs reform, and ASUU’s mission is more critical than ever. However, perhaps the time has come to innovate and explore other pathways to progress, in a way that aligns with the interests of students, parents, and lecturers alike.
Zainab Hussaini Yusuf,Department of Mass Communications,University of Maiduguri, Borno state