ERC LASU Blames FG For Frustrating Education In Nigeria

…Calls for final solutions to end strike menace

By Eletu Zulaikah & Ilesanmi Rushdah

Education Right Campaign held her first discussion since the inception of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike at Lagos University, Faculty of Education Sandwich Hall ll on the theme:” Requisite attitude of students and her Union leaders in the face of the ongoing strike and the failure of the Federal Government to properly fund education.

The programme commenced at exactly 12:00pm on Monday, 26th November with an opening speech by the incumbent coordinator of ERC LASU chapter, Comrade IBS Duroorike, who introduced the speakers: Rt. Hon Abdulkareem Ridwan (Arty) – LASUSU Speaker,  Comr. Sanusi Mubaraq; President of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Comr. Dhikrullah Aasin Bintinlaye; former coordinator of ERC LASU chapter and Comr. Osinowo Olawale as the moderator of the day among other participants.

The first speaker Rt. Hon. Abdulkareem (LASUSU Speaker) talked on key points: which include the attitude of the students Union leaders, 6% allocation to education and the failure of Federal Government to adhere with the provisions section18 of Nigeria 1999 constitution as amended which provides for free and quality education for all Nigerians.

He also pointed out that ASUU strike is at detriment to students career and the only way to curb it is to use the power of pen and the radical, Marxist and the leftist approach”.

The second speaker, former ERC coordinator posited that the blame game should be on the Federal government “because they have dissent proper funding in education. He also opine that the union leaders should compel the federal government to use the public resources to fund public own university   and the only way to do this is through mass struggle.

Moreso, Comrade Sanusi Mubaraq, President of Faculty of Social Science added that parmanet solution to the current situation is to remodify our mindset on how we address issues. He also enjoined students union leaders not to limit themselves to activities within the confine of their University and  therefore need to be self assertive.”

Furthermore, contribution was welcomed from the audience and the following point were made; The students Union such as National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) should be re-oriented towards defending the students interest all time, the Federal Government is to be blame for the ongoing strike, and finally “Nigerian Students must be prepared to Use their electoral power to vote in  government that can adequately fund Education”.

In conclusion, after the whole controversial discuss, it was agreed  that all Nigerian University students should not make the strike a sit back home strike, they should use all available means at the disposal; write up, twitter conference, social media advocacy, different group open letters, mass protest among others to compel the Federal Government to meet ASUU demands and ensure the strike is being call off any time soon.

Also, a proposal to create a broad coalition to see the possibility of pushing forward the struggle for compelling federal government to meet ASUU demands in other to bring an end to the strike was initiated.