EXCLUSIVENESS IN THE FRESHERS’ WEEK
Elabor Awelu
Over the last few weeks in Nigeria, it has been a daily report from various media houses across the country and beyond that the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria are on strike over the inadequate funding of the public Universities, their unpaid salaries by the federal government, their promotional arrears and the implementation of the Universities payment system (UTAS) among others that have led many University students to their houses while awaiting the next line of action that will be taken after the one month warning strike. Just last night, a comprehensive two months strike was announced, to add to the just completed one month warning strike.
Many Nigerian students have taken to the streets of Twitter and other social handles like Facebook to express their displeasure at the unceasing strike action undertaken by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities which has now become a yearly occurrence and gradually becoming a norm in the country. The incessant ASUU strikes have tremendously impeded the Nigerian public educational system, disrupting the academic calendar off course without focus and imprint, and extending the duration of study by years- not even months- across the public institutions. Nigerian students have left no stone unturned to express their displeasure and protest against the continued paralysis of academic action caused by this strike action. Their displeasure is aimed both at the federal government and ASUU.
While all these are happening all over the country- students praying for the resumption of academic activities soon, and many of them being at home- the premier Faculty of Arts of the University of Ibadan Students’ Association leadership are frivolously feeling comfortable with the warning strike and its continuity. They were seen mobilizing the faculty’s few students left in school to organize an event, undiluted, while many other freshers- whom apparently the programs are meant for- are at home and are denied the opportunity to take part despite being bonafide members of the faculty.
The strike action indicates that the school is not in session, yet AFAS executive members feel that the students of the faculty who have left for their various houses might be wrong and decided to organize events in their absence. Some of these students are financial members of the association and as such, have every right to be given an opportunity to attend a variety night or even take part in the freshers’ week in its entirety. Should we blame a student for being at home when he or she should simply be at home?
There have been reports from some aggrieved students at home stretching out their voices to express their dissatisfaction over this action of the Association. A student of the faculty who preferred to be anonymous told AFAS Press correspondent in a chat on WhatsApp that she had expected the association to put all the events on hold till students are back in school fully.
She said “All I thought was that due to the strike action, the events were going to be on hold till the school resumes back its academic activities. They don’t expect me to come to school from the East because of AFAS Variety Night or any other event when the strike is still on. Seriously, they were not considerate in planning these events”.
AFAS Correspondent, Elabor Awelu, reached out to the Vice president of the Association, who is also the Head of the event planning committee in a chat on WhatsApp and quizzed why the Association decided to organize the freshers’ week events in the absence of the vast majority of students in school, but she abruptly refused to divulge any information to the press as regards that. This equates that she is either too scared of the truth, or has absolute disregard for the freshers who demand answers as to why they are not allowed the opportunity to participate in these events.
The last administration of AFAS, the Francisco regime, failed to some extent, as ultimately the denial of students’ rightful package as financial members of the association was witnessed. From the tussle that ensued from it, it was obvious that the students’ interests weren’t vividly considered in carrying out their plans in the administration and this is beginning to kick in in this present administration. Do we see the deja vu? Time will tell.
In many universities across the world, the school board tries to diversify how students’ time is spent in the university by allowing students organize various kinds of events, both entertaining and educational in order to get some certain skills and build their practical experiences to suit their chosen profession. It is no secret that students love to spend both their free time and academic time learning, having fun, communicating, etc., because students lives should be full of joy and happiness. Now, what happened in the previous week is an indication that the AKOEM administration is unspeakably depriving some students their joy and happiness in school. Many faculties and departmental associations in the University of Ibadan have put their activities on hold, not because they don’t have the means to organize event nor because ASUU is on strike but because every individual student belonging to their association interest is passionately valued and respected. This is simply what we demand. It is not too much to ask for.