Strike and the future of Nigeria’s tertiary education

The incessant strike actions in the nation’s tertiary institutions have become a matter of concern to every right thinking Nigerian.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) went on strike to press home a better working condition for almost a year. Sadly, the age-long strike has forced many students to engage in social vices such as armed robbery, kidnapping and prostitution.
No nation the world over can attain greatness if it neglects its education sector. In a country like Nigeria however, education has been suffering myriad of problems. The dearth of infrastructure coupled with underfunding are but not limited to some of the crises in the sector. In spite of repeated promises by the government to bring to an end the ugly situation, the problem has persisted and defied all efforts.
The government should as a matter of urgency learn how to negotiate with the aggrieved staff whenever the need arise. It’s unfortunate that government always allowed strike to linger without considering the devastating effect it must have on education and the economic well-being of the country. The transformation agenda of the present administration can only be achieved if government invests greatly in the education sector.
Any government that toys with education puts its population at risk.
Pambeguwa is a student of Public Administration at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria

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