ASUU strike: 1.7 million applicants to universities face an uncertain future

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

The odds of the more than 1,700,000 applicants seeking admission to public colleges for the 2022–2023 session are rapidly dwindling.

The candidates took the most recent Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board exam in May, but due to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike that began on February 14, the institutions where they hoped to continue their education quest have been closed for six months in a row.

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), both of which began with a two-week warning strike on March 28, later joined the academics in their strike.

If not for the strikes, the academic year 2021–2022 should have ended by now, and preparations for the new session should be well underway.

There is no indication that the universities will reopen any time soon, and neither the Federal Government nor ASUU are changing their views.

Previously, the academics went on strike in March 2020, ended it in December of that same year, and then began the current strike in March.

According to stakeholders, there is already so much uncertainty in the university system that no one seems to be sure how the current students will continue their academic work after it was interrupted by the strike or if there will be spaces for the new intakes, each of whom paid N4,700 for the JAMB admission form.

Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the National President of SSANU, expressed his concerns about the logistical issues the institutions would experience if and when the ASUU strike is resolved yesterday.

Ibrahim, a member of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the group that serves as an umbrella organization for members of SSANU and NASU, claimed that solving the issue brought on by the strike will require considerable planning and effort.

The strike will undoubtedly have an impact on the class of 2022 admissions because there is already a backlog of students who have not yet begun their studies.

“Confusion already exists, even if the Federal Government handles the strike today. You are aware that the majority of universities have not finished their last semester.

So, it was already acknowledged that before the strike began, many had only just registered and had not yet begun attending lectures.

Three groups of students or so are awaiting admission to begin their courses. The system is fully utilized.

To fix this issue, only thoughtful talks and permutations are required. As you are aware, public universities have a limited number of spaces due to a lack of facilities and staff.

Nobody is able to predict what will occur.

ASUU wants the government to pay N1.1 trillion in university revitalization funding, which it claims it does not have, among other things.

The implementation of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), the payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) arrears, the resolution of proliferation and governance issues in state universities, the settlement of promotion arrears, the release of withheld academic salaries, and the payment of unpaid third-party deductions are among its other demands.

Mr. Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, stated last week that the Federal Government was unable to borrow N1.2 trillion annually in order to end the protracted strike by ASUU.

Should we take out a loan to pay N1.2 trillion annually? While taking questions on Channels television, Keyamo snapped.

“You can’t let one segment of the economy grab you by the throat and force you to borrow N1.2 trillion for overheads when our total income is closer to N6.1 trillion. Additionally, you need to construct roads, medical facilities, and other sectors, he added.

He urged parents all over the nation to plead with ASUU, which infuriated many Nigerians.

Mohammed Ibrahim, the national president of SSANU, revealed to The Nation Wednesday that the federal government committee overseeing the 2009 agreements with the university unions has requested the unions to resume negotiations.

Professor Emeritus Nimi Briggs, Pro-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, and Ndufu-Alike Ikwo serve as the Committee’s chairs.

The strike is ongoing, but the Federal Government has requested all unions to pick up the renegotiation with the Nimi Briggs Committee, according to the national president of SSANU.

We anticipate next week with anticipation and hope that something concrete and realistic will emerge.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) nominee for president, promised Wednesday to cooperate with the government and academics to put an end to the ongoing strikes in Nigerian colleges.

Abubakar gave a speech at a youth event with the PDP to commemorate the celebration of International Youth Day in Abuja in 2022. The event’s theme was “Intergenerational Synergy on Government.”

Abubakar, who recalled how his late father was detained for refusing to let him attend school, argued that everyone has a fundamental right to education, particularly children and young people.

He lamented the government’s inability to end the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) protracted strike, adding a PDP administration led by him would prevent such a thing from happening.

He promised to cooperate with the government and university officials to “make sure we terminate this continual strikes by ASUU.”

“This is because education is essential to your development,” he continued. It makes no difference if you work in business, politics, or another industry. Every child or person has the fundamental right to an education.

Therefore, it is the duty of any responsible administration to ensure that every Nigerian and every young person in this nation has access to that privilege.

The former vice president reaffirmed his commitment to a government that includes youth and promised to provide young people the chance to have the education and experience they need to succeed the older generations.

In order to save the youth and the country, Abubakar pleaded with the youth to back the PDP when it assumes power in 2023.

He continued, “I think the PDP offers you the ideal platform to realize your individual, collective, and national objectives