By Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed
In the last few days, Nigerians have been treated to theatrics and inundated with what now appears like a bogus claim of the past agreement between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
While it is believed that many Nigerians were not privy to the content of the document, ostensibly, containing the agreement, the recent statement attributed to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, that it was a mere draft with no iota of signatures, cast doubt on our collective sensibilities and integrity as a nation.
It is understandable the reason Nigerians have taken special interest and following issues surrounding the lingering clashes between the federal government and the ASUU over the contentious agreement. The latter has given an indication of an impending industrial action, which would ultimately disrupt academic programmes in public universities.
Any further disruption in the nation’s ivory tower, as experienced in past administrations, is tantamount to ruining the future of our potential graduates, supposed future leaders while we continue to feign pretence as if all is well. If this imminent action is not tamed, then our varsity campuses would become ghost towns, and for the umpteenth time, turn to Funeral Parlours.
As a nation, we can’t afford to toy with our intellectual hub, which varsity education represents. Is it not laughable that members of the intellectual community (varsity lecturers) receive crumbs as salaries just like civil servants, in the current economic reality, while we continue to not only splash but open our vaults to our friends in the world of round leather game under the pretext of patriotism? This is happening at the time the federal government announced plan to commence pay rise for political office holders.
Who can be more patriotic than those who build our intellectual fortress? In a society where you are not adequately remunerated, incentivized and welfare catered for, you can’t expect the best to be delivered, for you can’t give what you are bereft of. Where is the morale booster when your stomach is ravaged by hunger?
Let us stop pretending. The wheel of a sane nation is built on the intellectual mobility of the academia. Those who strengthen the intellectual fortress should not be treated as mound of shit. They are not Hyacinth but substances that purify water for easy consumption and healthy living.
Before another round of ASUU industrial disquiet ensues, let there be sincerity of purpose on the part of the federal government.
