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The Truth We Are Yet (and May Never) To Be Told

By: Okafor D. Okafor - Published 2009-11-11

Many persons- students inclusive did support the last ASUU strike not because they enjoy strikes nor feel good seeing productive youths idling away their life in some regrettable ventures. Far from it. People who showed huge support for the fourteen week old strike did so out of the feeling that the strike and other such drastic measures were (are) the most effective means of exposing and finding suitable solutions to the rot that has overtaken the education sector- specially the tertiary institutions- the primary and post primary schools are in no better shape let’s take note. Apart from telling the world how unacceptable what we pass off as schools here are, there was; thanks to the strike a thorough unveiling of the present Umaru Musa Yaradua government as one that’s totally insensitive and lacking in sense of shame. On account of the industrial action embarked upon by the university teachers, we were offered a rich peep into the workings of the mind of Mr. Umaru Yaradua and the visionless crowd that populate his cabinet. That the strike lingered for those lengthy weeks served to remind the attentive Nigerian youths whose future was placed on the slab that those who run their affairs lack any modicum of human sympathy and are bereft of a single grain of honor. In essence, the message was well received: your country is in the wrong hands.

One other uninspiring import of the long industrial action is the truth that Nigerians are incapable of mounting any form of firm resistance against their oppressors. It’s sad that apart from a few instances of weakened street protests in Lagos and some other western states, not much was heard from the collectivity of Nigerian students while it all lasted. The simple message discerning minds were able to glean is the unstated fact that in the real sense of it, the Nigerian students have no viable body to push their position. The so-called National Association of Nigerian Students- NANS is long dead. Make no mistake, NANS as a body ceased to exist or perhaps function sometime between 2001 and 2003. Obasanjo’s mindless meddling in the body’s affairs played a great role- am sure many would point at Babangida’s role in castrating the body- I very much agree. The systemic incapacitation of the body conformed perfectly to Obasanjo’s many devious designs aimed at instituting a demonic agenda of self-perpetuation. I hope to in the days to come do a fine exposé on how this human disaster we like to call OBJ carefully manipulated NANS elections and rolled out millions and state apparatus to impose the worst human beings as leaders of the body. When eventually I would do the piece which I intend to make elaborate and incisive, Nigerians would be made to better appreciate that those who fatten at their misery are grand masters in the very art of devilish sequencing.

We now would continue with our present story. Because NANS is dead and long buried, they failed to mobilize the students against the impunity that threatened to eat away the education sector. NANS failed in the simple matter of putting up any kind of pretence of being supportive of the students. A sobering bit offered me by a close observer of NANS politics a few days back is that those who make a show of leading the body are hardly students in any known institution anywhere in Nigeria. Let’s hear him straight: “NANS leadership is dominated by PDP thugs, cult leaders and acquaintances of PDP chieftains”. There’s no question. A sad proof is the body’s decision to offer support to the second term aspiration of the Plateau governor who deserve to be called a strong hater of education and hence should be isolated by anyone who has the interest of education at heart. Alas, this is the man the depraved NANS leadership chose to humor his re-election fantasy. In the absence of a coordinated body to effectively champion her cause, it’s one other testimony in docility that no one person or group of students rose to fill this vacuum.

I enjoyed the persistence of ASUU leadership while the strike lasted. A reasonable section of the Nigerian press deserves tons of commendation for their firm commitment to truth and objectivity. Some good spirited Nigerians who played fine roles in resolving the strike (albeit belatedly) also should be praised. The lecturers got quality deal and students again are back on campus. Parents too have heaved a sigh of relief; at least for now; their children would be in school- busy with academic pursuits. All good.

I now would want to dwell on a few issues the strike failed to achieve (and may never) which in effect would lead to questions about the real success of the strike. I took out time a few days back to know what the situation on our various campuses is. The aim was to know if there are signs of improvement in the state of things in our various campuses (I said signs not real improvements). Presently, am in Lagos. Reports generally indicate that no real academic activities have begun in any of the major campuses across the country. My source in UNILAG here told me the lecturers are still more preoccupied with their individual commercial ventures which they claim brings greater return than laboring in classrooms and laboratories (little wonder it’s said that most lecturers in UNILAG and LASU are more adept at managing commercial outfits than they are with the task of research and teaching). This being the case, the task of teaching and making attempts to cover lost grounds has been quietly shelved to the background. In UNIBADAN, one source told me that the situation is not too dissimilar. Here, the lecturers are often seen at the bars bragging and chatting loudly. Worse according to a certain Mr. Emmanuel who briefed me, the students are still unable to locate any form of attitudinal change from the teachers even with the increased pay package and other incentives offered them by the government. In his words, “rather than show humility and even appreciation to the students- a number of whom staged street protest against government’s insensitivity during the strike, our teachers are getting worrisomely arrogant in the way most of tem deal with us”. He did however concede that a few persons among the teaching staff are quite nice in their interactions and are always willing to show understanding with the plight of the students.

A more worrisome angle is what obtains at both the Federal University of Technology Owerri and the Imo state University where sub-standard texts are being discreetly and brazenly sold to helpless students. Lecturers working through their agents specially the Class Reps employ various measures to impose the materials on those who ordinarily may not buy. Writing of names and university registration number; then advertising purchase of the books as prerequisites for examinations are just a few of their designs. This ugly trend is more worrisome in IMSU. In this university, students take more interest in sending scam letters than in reading their books. One of these students did tell me that they were forced into the unholy trade by the attempt to meet some of the ridiculous charges forced on students by the university authorities and of course- purchase handouts and bribe greedy lecturers to pass their courses. There are other factors; we all know. Some of these boys run some of the most effective kidnap rackets in the country presently and are often connected in some of the biggest kidnaps going on presently in the South East. Another sad truth is the knowledge that refuse heaps are gradually taken over the school premises- from the hostels to the classrooms.

In UNN, the students are being unreasonably stretched by strenuous lecture fixtures. It’s baffling how some of the lecturers here are bent on covering a whole semester work (which normally takes three months on the minimum in two-three weeks). Little attention is being paid to the ability of the students to learn some of what is being taught. Still, some other lecturers are yet to make a single appearance in the school till date. Others who did come only managed to introduce their courses and quietly withdrew. Some of the senior staff; my source alerted me are bickering with the new VC who they accuse of being an opportunist. Then we ask: is this what we bargained for? Is this the reason our sons and daughters stayed out of classrooms for almost four months? In all the schools listed above, students still have difficulty finding seats in lecture halls. Those sitting at the back can hardly hear whatever the lecturers are saying. The above are only samples from a few universities in the country. It’s certainly worse in others not mentioned.

In sum, the teaching and learning environment in our tertiary institution are yet to show signs of any improvements. The lecturers have failed to show any appreciation to the support offered their agitation by the students who felt the pinch the most. They are yet to announce to the world through deeds that the better package offered them is a force for good. It’s sad that these lecturers are still to show good understanding to the plight of the students who make do without most rudimentary facilities; who have to spend over thirty minutes in an attempt to fetch just one bucket of water; who have to do menial jobs to sustain their stay in school. It is not unusual for the students to demand improved attitude from the lecturers and perhaps expose those who are still stuck in the past- the old dirty way; who insist that they must go to bed with innocent girls just to award them grades, who collect money from students to have their project topics approved like is done in some departments in Abia state university Uturu and other state universities across Nigeria; who give paltry attention to the teaching jobs and all other such issues. ASUU on her own part must monitor their members closely and fish out the bad eggs who have continuously rubbished the association’s image. Government agencies like NUC and the federal ministry of education as well would be right to embark on regular monitoring of the universities and sanctioning those who fall short of laid down rules.

Yes; all hands must be on deck to truly reposition the education sector now we are done- or so it seems with the strike.

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