Abuja, Nigeria – E be like say wahala don land for Nigerian universities again. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) don finally put mouth for ground and declare two-week warning strike wey start from midnight of Sunday. Dem dey vex say federal government no meet their demand as dem don dey carry matter since last year. E be like say ASUU don tire to dey wait make government talk correct things.
Prof. Chris Piwuna, wey be ASUU President, don come out yarn for Channels Television, say government dey slow like tortoise when e come to solving lecturers’ problems. Na so dem come give government three weeks to respond to their complaints, but dem no hear anything until the time don reach. Wahala wey dey smell e, make dem no catch cold!
The Federal Government, led by Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, don try show small love by talking say dem go pay ASUU some of the agreed allowances, but e be like say na just sweet mouth dem dey use. ASUU no gree make dem trick dem again, dem don dey say all this talk don dey carry over since 2009. Na eight good years wey dem dey negotiate and still no solution.
Like play like play, the warning strike wey dem declare fit turn to full-blown strike if the government no move sharp. Piwuna talk say dem no get faith in government deal because na old story dem dey repeat. E pain dem say even funds for university dey scarce like pure water for desert!
In statement, the Education Minister don still dey appeal to dem to reconsider, but as e be now, ASUU don raise their flag and dey signal for war! E reach to wonder why government dey wait until last minute before dem go fit act. Na because of all these wahala wey fit cause students to suffer again, just as dem don suffer during previous strikes.
Meanwhile, CONUA and NAMDA wey be other unions for the education sector don talk say dem no join ASUU strike. Dem dey waka their own lane, saying education must not suffer because of ASUU wahala. But trust dem, joint forces no go work for this one as e be now.
The matter don turn political, and students dey look for who go give dem solution fast. Students wey no go school don dey carry their bag don ready for any kind protest, and e no go sweet if dem no resolve this matter quick-quick.
As e stand now, everybody dey look up to government. Will dem show some serious commitment this time? E go sweet make our university lecturers finally see some things wey go improve their work condition. Until then, na strike be the order of the day!
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
