Back to Strike. Day1

 I'd watched as events unfolded. 

I used to attend ASUU meetings on my campus religiously even. 

But there came a time when it just broke my heart too much to sit and talk about what needed to change and was very unlikely to. 

I chose me as I usually do when something becomes too much. I read the information but stayed away. 

The usual refrain when strikes are mentioned is for ASUU to 'do something different'. 

This, usually from the elite in our society (sadly, many of my friends fall in this category). 

Well, for the last 2 years, ASUU did just that. 

While negotiating and dealing with members' disappointment and for some, challenges and even death (which i choose to call murder, by the government). 

ASUU did something other than strike but nothing changed. 

In fact, the government chose to boast of their success in making it impossible for ASUU to strike. 

But here we are. 

Day 1 of a 14day warning strike. 

Because your government has coconut head. 

And it actually serves their purpose to ensure that tertiary education is paralysed for several reasons. 

If public universities do not work, several of them own private universities. The public uni's loss is the private Uni's gain. 

Not just in terms of students but also, Faculty. 

Also, the products of the private Unis get first pick of jobs when the masses from public Unis are not there to compete with them. 

The tiny point of the children of most of the decision makers in governance being in universities overseas is not even factored into this my long shalaye. 

The journey has been long o and I read a long list of attempts to dialogue with the government in recent times and was just blown away by how inattentive this government has been. 

'1. In 2017= FG inaugurated the Wale Babalakin committee, but he resigned in 2021. 

2. In 2021= FG inaugurated Munzali Jibrin’s committee, which also produced a draft that was never signed. 

3. In 2022= FG inaugurated Nimi Briggs renegotiation committee, which produced a draft that the government never signed or implemented. 

4. In October 2024= the FG inaugurated Yayale Ahmed renegotiation committee inaugurated to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with ASUU

5. In August 2025= the education minister inaugurated a committee headed by the ministry’s PS to look into the draft agreement between ASUU and the Yayale Ahmed renegotiation committee submitted in February, 2025.

6. October 7th, 2025= Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee (FGTIENC), to be headed by Yayale Ahmed

7. Next?'

Find above, the journey since the conversation on renegotiation began.

I remember reading about a loan scheme....You refuse to pay people a living wage but are not averse to loaning them money interest-free! Is it not madness?! 

I know that parents were very happy about the NELFUND sccheme that students were asked to subscribe to which made it easy for students who hitherto could not afford tertiary education to do so. 

But those who tutor these students are on a 16year old salary scale and are being pauperised for nothing other than a dedication to their craft. 

Make it make sense. 

My assertion that we are not ready is my sincere belief and when we all are, we will compel the government to do what is required. 

The Minister has showed his hand and ignorance. He was quoted as saying government would invoke no work no pay and I'm truly amused. 

The pay of 3 and a half months government has held onto from the last strike, has it killed us? 

Or the salary that lasts about 10days every month and leaves one fearful that nothing untoward must happen or one will have to appeal to family and friends to come to one's aid, what is that?! 

Next, I read how he said he is unaware that ASUU is on strike. 

My dear, you will not know as you have never had to look into your child's eyes to explain why you continue to work so hard and not be able to meet needs they have. 

Or for some ASUU members whose children attend the very universities where they labour and when on strike, see the confusion of betrayal and understanding in their children's eyes. 

The way you hang your head when a child says no to public uni education after watching her sibling deal with spending 6years on a 4year course. 

The look in their eyes when they see you tear up because of the passion of your belief in the system and your frustration at how hard it is. 

Yet, the government that found billions to build in the wake of a new President and buy new vehicles and equip already equipped clinics to see to Mr President's health when he usually jets out to see his physicians overseas. 

That found money to give to sportsmen who made your nation proud. 

That reports borrowing again and again. Yet is unable to pay what it promised and review salaries to ensure that you can just contribute what you think is your bit to making your corner of the world better. In your own way. 

This is day 1.