By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
Students at the Federal and States Universities have been called upon to boycott the 2023 general elections in protest against the federal government over it's lukewarm attitude towards their education.
The students who came out in a solidarity protest with the Academic Staff Union of Usman Danfodiyo University (ASUU-UDUS) Chapter, affirmed that they are going to communicate their resolution to the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for onwards delineation and circulation.
Reacting to the call for Nigerian students to boycott the 2023 general elections or withdraw their support for the ruling party, Ahmed Fufai, a student from the Faculty of Law at UDUS said, "Yes, if the federal government want us to come out and vote, then, they should encourage us by letting us know that our future matters to them.
"The FG, should, as a matter of urgency, reach out to the demands by settling whatever differences that exist between them and ASUU for normalcy to return to our schools".
Before the protest, UDUS-ASUU chapter had held a special congress at the University campus where it invited members of the public, parents, labour unions, students, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders to discuss issues regarding the federal government.
The congress which had it's theme as, "Federal Government Attempt To Criminalize Strike In Labour Sector and Casualization of Academic Staff", has in attendance, Professor Muhammad Almustapha, UDUS-ASUU chapter chairman as host while Sokoto NLC chairman, Comrade Abubakar Malami, amongst others, were speakers.
The protesting UDUS-ASUU members took off from the hall and walked for about 10 minutes to the Vice Chancellor's office (Senate Building) in company of the students and other stakeholders.
The students were seen displaying placards with various inscriptions ranging from, 'ASUU Can't Work In Hunger', 'FG Please Restore The Glory Of Our Universities', 'Do Not Play With Our Futures', and 'FG Note That No Nation Make Progress Without Sound Education' amongst other similar inscriptions.
Addressing the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lawal Bilbis who was represened by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Admin), Professor Ibrahim Magawata, in front of the Senate building, UDUS- ASUU chapter chairman, Prof Muhammed Al-Mustapha, said they have come to present their protest letter for onward delivery to President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Prof. Al-Mustapha, their members are being seen subjected to inhumane treatment for striving to maintain the integrity of our education. He said in the letter that, "This letter is necessary, at this time, with a view to drawing your attention to the inhumane treatments being meted to the Members of the University Academics and whose only crime is to patriotically be concerned about the state of universities in Nigeria.
"Mr. President Sir, you may wish to recall that several efforts have been made by this same body of intellectuals in ensuring the protection of the sanctity of the Nigerian public university system".
While noting that ASUU were forced to embark on strike on the 14th of February, 2022, because of the nonchalant attitude of the government representatives, Prof Almustapha said, " It is unfortunate to say that those whose responsibility is to manage the situation from the government angle, allowed the situation to degenerate to the current situation".
ASUU in their letter also reminded the President that the on-going mindless treatment meted out to their members by paying half salaries to them never happened even during the military era where he served as one of the Head of States too.
"'Mr. President, you preached during your campaign to address the issue of tertiary Education with utmost vigour, but unfortunately, your administration watched as the remnants of the dignity of Nigerian public universities are being desecrated by an overzealous labour minister. It is pertinent to remind Mr. President that no nation has made it through fighting it's intellectuals".
Continuing, Prof. Al-Mustapha said, "The strange policy adopted by the minister of labour known as prorata in the payment of October salaries in which our members were referred to as casual workers and under your watch, was the worst blow to the Nigerian public universities. This is clearly a shameful act perpetrated by a shameless government representative".
In their appeal, the letter urged President Buhari to stop what it described as "deployment of starvation as a method of coercing the University Academic Staff, adding "One cannot work while hungry".
UDUS Vice Chancellor, Prof Bilbis, however assured the State Chapter of ASUU that their letter will be delivered to President Muhammadu Buhari, accordingly. NNL.
