By Abubakar Shehu
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in particular and academics, in general, are characterized by somber lifestyle in the economic parlance. Even though, the adjective ‘somber’ may sound unmusical to the ears of some among my colleagues in academia yet it is my unfortunate diction.
Those privy to the private life of a typical academic staff would tell you the austerity that has become the badge of academics’ family life. Of course, greener pastures are a product of individual perception. But, why should academia become a dark pasture worth-deserting by most of our first class graduates or even academics’ biological children?
If not in Nigeria, the folks that occupy the intellectual field are the most respected, cherished and rewarded. Yes, if not because of anything but the need to support their psychological utility without unnecessary interruptions. The brains of academics need a comfortable atmosphere to function well and be able to give the best.
Education is key to any development and it naturally raises hackles of those with an iota of conscience to witness its key players (academics) being subjected to hunger and squalor. Pecuniary gains are tabooed for academics by those in the corridors of power. This precarious economy affects the quality of scholarship both in teaching and researching.
Yes, it is a pride and honour to be a lecturer. But, must one be persecuted for that choice? Where has it become a crime to graduate with first or second class honours to qualify you for lecturing job? Why should professors be earning less than what some of their students that graduated with third class or pass degree are earning in some federal ministries? What a nation!
The academic environment is characterized by some troubles that sound economy become the troubleshooter. Yes, lecturers need a reasonable amount of money to be widely published. All those publications are tied to their promotions.
It also breaks one’s bank to compete in a global space that is flooded with new technologies. Yes, lecturers need money for technologies, books and running of programmes for those that are staff in training. Cognizant of the foregoing, no one can gainsay the fact that psychological tranquility that will pave ways for academic excellence is intertwined with economic stability.
Nigeria claims to be the giant of Africa in terms of economy but why must it be the opposite when education is mentioned. What is obtainable for scholarship in Nigeria cannot be compared to other climes where academics are provided with the needed resources to survive the troubles of academia.
As an ASUU member, I want to join my colleagues to thank other stakeholders in education such as our students, parents and some among the politicians who can see reasons in the age-old strike by ASUU just to get an atmosphere conducive for teaching, learning and researching.
It saddens ASUU members just like other stakeholders that the only effective option available to them is strike. It is also instructive to note that ASUU does not embark on any strike for the heck of it but when necessitated by unfortunate circumstances.
The dilemma now remains in the choice between spending several months or even years to ram home the demands for requisite paraphernalia needed by academics to feel and act like one or just to call off the strike based on tantalizing agreements that will be short lived and eventually force ASUU to embark on a fresh strike after a few months.
Abubakar Shehu is a lecturer with the Department of Mass Communication, ABU, Zaria, can be reached via abubakarshehu@abu.edu.ng
