It is no longer news that the academic sector of Nigeria in recent times has suffered many setbacks owing to the series of strikes embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) across public universities in the country.
Students have been at home for close to eight-month since ASUU commenced its strike on Monday, February 14, 2022, to protest the non-implementation of the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding reached with it by the Federal Government.
After several attempts by the government for ASUU to end the strike with no result, the government filed a suit against the academic union which the court ordered them to resume immediately and call off the strike.
But ASUU through its counsel, Femi Falana filed another suit to appeal the judgment which eventually didn’t go in the favor of the union as the appeal court in Abuja also order the union to call off the strike and resume lectures for students.
Following this, the Union on Friday, October 14 announced a suspension of the strike ordering members to resume lectures after a court of appeal had ordered the striking lecturers to return to class after the National Industrial Court ruled against the union in a case brought to it by the Federal Government.
But ASUU’s National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, while speaking during an interview on Sunday on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said the union called off its eight-month strike due to a court order and appeals from Nigerians and not because issues brought by the lecturers were fully addressed by the government.
With this development, one can say that the days of strike are not over for Nigerian students and it is not a time to fully relax and say all is well. However, with the suspension, students must begin to prepare to resume in their various universities and probably get ready to write exams.
In doing this, there are five things students must consider as they go back to school;
- Don’t be in haste to resign from your work or opt-out from that training: It is no news that ASUU has called off its strike but as students what should you do, don’t be too in haste to resign from your work or opt-out from that training even though you have to go back to school but you can find a way to reach an agreement with your employer or trainer if you can work or train remotely. Where this is not possible, find a common ground to ensure that your spot is always secure anytime you are back from school either for holiday or we never can say maybe another ASUU strike may happen again.
- Prepare to return back to school mentally: The issue of the ASUU strike has been a thing that Nigerian students have had to battle with for a very long time a course that ought to be for four years has been extended to five, six and even seven years for students due to the strike and this have fully affected the mental state of many students. But with the news of resumption, there seems to be hope for students again, there is however need for students to fully prepare themselves especially mentally to get back into the academic system.
- Stay in touch with opportunities and networks you built in the last eight months: Don’t neglect the opportunities or networks you have built over the months simply because you are going back to school. Always remember to keep in touch with these opportunities or networks; they will always come in handy.
- Continue to develop and build on the skills you have gained: Never neglect the skills you have acquired during the strike because a skill that is not constantly put to use can become dormant in no time and you won’t want that. Hence, always make sure to stay relevant and up-to-date on those acquired skills.
- Remember ASUU will always be ASUU have a plan B: What if ASUU declared another strike tomorrow, would you be stranded and frustrated again with the government and ASUU as you did in the past eight months? What plans have you got? How do you intend to utilize those plans while in school? What skills or resources would you require to achieve that plan?
Be prepared for the great success that lies ahead of you, and don’t let ASSU or Federal Government ruin your future. You have got a great future, Go for it…
WE DO SINCERELY HOPE THERE WILL BE A TOTAL END TO ASUU STRIKE VERY SOON.
