The “Hows” And “Why” Of ASSU’s 40 Billion Tussle, By Pelumi Olowoyeye

Following the series of back and forths which led to an eventual 7-month strike by ASSU, the Federal Government has finally made a counter-offer of 30 Billion Naira, while the remaining 10 Billion would be paid in 2021 and 20232 respectively.

Last week’s roundtable negotiation between the FG and ASSU seem to be tilting in favor of ASSU, who have been able to arm-wrestle the government into accepting several of their propositions, including the replacement of the Federal Government’s IPPIS with ASSU’s UTAS

The power play and mind games between the Federal Government and ASSU has been endless and has continued from one government to the other, with no end in sight. This is evident in the meagre 6.7 federal government yearly budget for education in Nigeria, which by UNESCO’s standards is 20 % lower than the minimum yearly educational budget recommended for developing countries by the organization.

How do we raise a generation of learners who would be on par with their international colleagues in other developing or developed parts of the world? How do we train and build tomorrow’s inventors, scientists, inventors, techies and educators if we are yet to start investing the right budgetary allocation as is expected of a developing country with growth in sight.

How do we even match up with our neighboring country Ghana that has been investing at least 11bn Ghana Cedis annually into its educational sector and a rapidly growing Indian that is always increasing its budget allocation percentage for education annually, the question remains “can the Federal Government of Nigeria be trusted again by ASSU?

READ ALSO: ASUU: Strike To End Soon As FG Agrees To Release N30BN

Students have been left to their own devices at home and what is supposed to be a 2020 academic session is almost over with little or nothing to show for it.Will FG’S promises come to fruition? Is the unending ASSU strike ever going to end? Will the educational sector of Nigeria get a well-deserved financial revamp? These are the “hows” and “whys” of the Nigerian student and the Nigerian educational sector.