Strikes by different industrial sectors in Nigeria have, almost, become a norm. It is either you hear of an industrial action in one sector today and another tomorrow, or even more than one by different sectors at the same time.
The commonest of these strikes is that by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). To say that the ASUU strike has become an annual occurrence, as though it is a festival, is an understatement. Even some national annual events in the world were hindered by the Covid-19 pandemic. But no! The ASUU strike wasn't.
While the downing of tools lasts, the government keeps calling for one negotiation after the other. Negotiations that have never come to a conclusion for generations.
Again, while the strikes last, when ever they are embarked upon by ASUU, many students stay in their homes without any meaningful engagements. As to reading their books, they would read more books than all professor in the world combined by the end of one strike.
Most students, during this periods, do not engage in lucrative ventures and/or trainings for the fear of stopping midway when ever the strikes are called off. Indeed, they can never predict when the industrial actions would be called off. And truly, moneys spent on registrations for trainings, such as baking might be lost, if strikes are called off without completion of trainings.
In spite of all the uncertainties, it is better to dare. Sometimes, ASUU strikes run into months, even up to eight, as it was the case in 2020. It is, therefore, advisable for undergraduates of public universities, to use these strikes and get themselves skills; marketable ones at that. One might not, directly, be taught how to 'make money' in the varsity, but a good skill will surely give money. Most graduates today were not better informed, only realities taught them thereafter. In a hard way, of course!
The government does not seem sincere. In the heat of the ongoing ASUU strike, there were news of the government to have, allegedly, given USD1million to Afghanistan to rebuild it's country. At that same time, ASUU was demanding an amount less than that.
More often than not, students are excited about going back to school. But the reality is that; they only miss the fun and all the youthful excesses on campus, and in some cases, parental chains.
It is good to get a skill and be a better you. It is as well, good to use the strike, lest it uses you. For the time to resume, when there is a strike, no student knows. Not even ASUU, nor the government.
