ASUU Strike May Result Into Admission Crisis

The expression on the face of 22-year-old
Mike Ugbodu on Monday conveyed a
feeling of disillusionment. He looked every
inch worried. All of a sudden, his chubby
face seemed to have shrunken with
anxiety. Ugbodu, otherwise known for his
lively nature, looked quite lonely. In fact,
he was not in a mood to talk.
Of course, it is not surprising that the
young man looked this desolate and
disturbed. Having scored high grades in
the last Universities Matriculation
Examination, he looked forward to writing
the post-UTME at the Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria last August, to enable
him to secure admission to study Micro
Biology in the university.
However, five months after the UME and
now a few weeks to the date fixed by the
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board
to end the admission process for
2013/2014 session, nothing has
happened. Indeed, this young man’s
dream has not come to fruition following
the industrial action embarked upon by
members of the Academic Staff of the
Universities. The strike is frustrating his
effort to write the post-UTME in ABU.
“When will this rigmarole end? When will
ASUU and the Federal Government
resolve their differences?” were all that he
managed to say to our correspondent.
But the situation, is not peculiar to the
Edo State-born potential microbiologist.
Kabiawu Wasilat is in a similar situation
with Ugbodu. Wasilat, who wants to study
Mass Communicationsat the Olabisi
Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun
State, is equally not happy with the
situation in the nation’s university
system. Her hope of securing admission
to the OOU has been threatened following
the ASUU strike. According to her, the
July initial date fixed for the examination
did not work and till now the authorities
of the university have not fixed a new
date.
The story of Ugbodu and Wasilat is a tip
of the iceberg in comparison to the
anxious thoughts on the minds of many
Nigerian students seeking admission to
the nation’s universities in the 2013/2014
academic session. Many admission
seekers, who applied to study in
institutions such as the Federal University
of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State;
University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; and
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria are
practically stranded as the institutions
have still not conducted the post-UTME.
The concern is coming on the heels of a
directive last week by JAMB that all
universities must conclude their post-
Universities Matriculation examination by
October 31, 2013. The fact that the
“academic hub” of the system, the
teaching community, is on strike further
compounded the situation.
University lecturers embarked on
nationwide strike on July 2 to protest
against the non-implementation of the
2009 agreement they reached with the
Federal Government. They are also
seeking the payment of their unpaid
allowances.
While the FG has released N130bn to
meet some of the demands of the striking
teachers, the ASUU President, Dr. Nassir
Fagge, likens the money to a drop in an
ocean of requests.
A professor of Education, Ademola
Onifade, assessing the development, says
the JAMB directive may cause more
confusion in the education sector.
Onifade, who teaches at the Lagos State
University, Ojo notes, “Why is JAMB
giving this directive now that ASUU
members are on strike? It is obvious that
with the ongoing industrial action, there is
no way we shall round off the current
academic year on time. So, why are we in
a hurry to bring in the new students? It is
just to add to the confusion.
“JAMB needs to allow the universities to
resume first. For sure, there will be no
fresh admission until we are through with
the current academic calendar. Therefore,
the directive is just to add anxiety and
confusion as well as to put pressure on
the university authorities.”
The Vice President, the National Parent
Teacher Association of Nigeria, Alhaja
Munikat Idris, also shares Onifade’s
belief.
She notes that though the other non-
teaching staff could help in the admission
process, there is need to follow due
process.
She adds, “I think that the admission
process should not be done in a
haphazard manner. I would rather advise
the FG to appeal to the university teachers
to return to classes.
According to an education consultant,
Mrs. Ify Anatune-Nwobosi, the
responsibility of setting and conducting
examinations in the university lies with
the teaching staff.
She warns that now that members of
ASUU are on strike, the situation may
result in an admission crisis in the
affected institutions.
She says, “The responsibility of
organising and conducting examinations
is in the hands of the teaching staff. I,
therefore, urge the FG to intervene in the
crisis to bring normalcy to the sector. Let
us not involve the fresh students in this
face-off and further jeopardise their
future.”