Recently, the Federal Government confirmed the payment of half-salaries to public university lecturers. From October 14, when the strike was called off, till the rest of the month that the government believed they worked for.

This payment came after ASUU’s eight-month strike. Most of the issues they agitated for and went on strike for was not fulfilled nor resolved.

These lecturers resumed for their classes following the industrial court’s injunction and somehow hoping that their backlog of salaries would be paid.

The Federal Government turned a deaf ear to all these demands and went ahead to enforce no-work-no-pay policy that crippled their salaries.

After this payment, it was reported that Gombe ASUU has threatened to withhold students’ results, and SUU exco are going to meet, as lecturers mull sit-at-home. Other lecturers who do not have this firm disposition would still go to classes to teach.

There is a plethora of questions that have begun to plague my mind since I read about this payment.
How can a lecturer impart knowledge effectively to his students in his current disconcerted disposition? How many of these lecturers are conscientious enough to follow their moral inclination to act justly towards students in marking and grading? What is the fate of many students who are currently learning in various public universities in Nigeria?

These questions trouble me and they should also trouble everyone who is passionate about tertiary education in Nigeria.

It appears to me that lecturers who are tired of the current education system, yet cannot leave for green or greener pasture, will have to endure this seemingly harsh treatment from the government. His endurance, however, also has a ripple effect on the way students learn and pass their courses at school.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/why-students-should-give-up-on-public-university-education-in-nigeria/