OOU STRIKE: Is This The Change We Voted For? – By Festus Ogun

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) have last week, embarked on an indefinite strike. The union claimed that they have decided to drop all academic activities due to the nonpayment of their salary.

It was also alleged that the Ogun State government have neglected the institution and have not given any dime to the institution for the past twenty-eight months. The strikers have equally complained of the government laisser-faire towards their welfare. In short, things have not been going as expected on the part of the government.

It is worthy of note, before continuing with this piece that the ASUU, OOU branch have been going on strike for good number of time since Amosun took over power in 2011. Since the issue of nonpayment of workers salary has been a common feature of all APC led states, then, there is need for reconsideration of the “Change” slogan the party is preaching all –in relation to our institutions of learning.

Starting from Buhari, the main reason why he was voted into power last year is no more than the fact that people expected change in the country. Many citizens of Nigeria are just too tired of the PDP led administration and as such, they opted for the APC which promised to bring change and development to Nigeria. In reality, people voted for the APC’s “Change” and thus, they expected this APC led government to sweep away their past ‘wahalas’ with their political brooms – the issue of nonpayment of salary no exclusion!

And since Senator Ibikunle Amosun is also under this “Change” platform, he was also being voted for in the expectation of change in the mode and manner of governance. Many workers (OOU ASUU strikers included) and youths (OOU students included) in the state also voted for Amosun simply because of the “change” the APC advertised to them. The duo voted Amosun so as to “change” their lives for good, particularly in the area of their welfare. However, with this height of total neglect it seems that Amosun is Judas-Iscaroting us!

Let me hasten to state here that there is “change” and there is “change”. There is change from bad situation to good, there is change from good situation to bad, there is change from bad to worse, to mention a few. Now, how do we explain Amosun’s meaning of “change” with the way he is treating ASUU OOU and the institution at large? Whatever the answer may be, I doubt if this is the change we had in mind while we voted for APC/Amosun.

During the electioneering season last year, the respected governor promised to facilitate and promote quality education in higher institutions of learning, particularly, Olabisi Onabanjo University. However, it appears very unfortunate and equally surprising seeing the man that promised to bring about “change” in our institutions contributing to educational downfall in the state. He has not destroyed this educational legacy expressly though, but he has taken his time to prove this through both his actions and inactions.

In the words of Nelson Mandela, education is key instrument to change the world. Equally, education is the key instrument to “change” Nigeria, Ogun State included. Now, where the government is toiling with education which is the fulcrum of national development, how do we expect “change”? Infact, suffice it to say that a government that takes education for granted, like this state’s, appears to care less about the future. And if Amosun is not caring about the future of this state, then, the essence of his administration is nothing but a waste of time.

Infact, of what essence is his “Mission to Rebuild Ogun State” if the workers of the state are wallowing in abject poverty and similarly working in pain? What is he rebuilding? Bridges? Infrastructures? What is he even rebuilding when education is at stake? Tell me, what is manner of Change is this? Look at me, there is no iota of “change” in a state where lecturers’ are embarking on strike over unpaid salary. It is pitiable!

Interestingly, the question bothering the mind of this little writer is: is this “change” not scam? Is it not that the “Change” Amosun promised is only used hoodwink the unsuspecting citizens of the state? These questions need be ask since the way and manner Amosun handles the business of governance, particularly on education, doesn’t depict the meaning, essence and spirit of the ‘expected’ change. If it were, our institution would not have been left unconcerned.

Look, for the government to even answer these questions above: whether the change(which is even an illusion) is scam or not, it need not reply me through Olaokun Soyinka. I am not interested in any rejoinder by his media experts. It is not needed. We want the government to put the change slogan in action. We want to believe that this is a government better than the past administrations through actions and not by words. Shouting “change” all around will not fill the pockets of our lecturers with their salary. We need the government to prove a “change” for better not for worse like the one being unfolding presently.

Finally, for us to believe this “change” is no fraud, let the governor first of all clear all his outstanding debt. Let him take education serious. Let him remember us in OOU. For, he needs not forget that his Mission to Rebuild Ogun State and the Change mantra will be utterly useless if has little or no care about education – the importance of education, must not be underestimated. Nigeria has a future, it must be secured.

I rest my case!
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Written by:- Festus Ogun |  A law undergraduate of OOU writes from Ago-Iwoye.