ASUU this, ASUU that. The headlines are daily inundated with stories of who said what, where, when and why, as the elephants continue to fight and the grass is left scarred and generally victimized.
Since this strike started, the Federal Government seems to be the party that cared more for student welfare. The Union has been largely exposed for fighting for its pocket and has lost a lot of public support over the last one month, although sympathy over the death of Festus Iyayi remained high.
President Jonathan and his administration has set aside over a quarter of a trillion Naira to meet ASUU demands since the strike started. A huge chunk of the money is going towards lecturers’ allowances, salaries and will improve the standard of living of the academic staff. Some will buy nicer clothes, nicer cars, maybe even take nicer vacations with their families, girlfriends or significant others.
In all this, who has spared a second to think about the students? I think its high time the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria uses his opportunity to wrestle away the hearts and minds of the students from the opposition. If it was alleged that the opposition was able to infiltrate ASUU and caused the notoriety of the strike. Maybe the President can also use his powers to infiltrate the students.
All the President needs to do is set up a fund of say N10 billion to N50 billion and begin to offer students incentives. Firstly, many students lost some money as a result of the strike, maybe they had paid for accommodation and now have to extend the contract and pay extra as a result of the strike, the Government can offer such students housing grants to compensate them for losses.
Perhaps there are other students who started a business during the strike, and it looks viable, then the President could potentially offer such students micro enterprise grants payable to the student upon graduation or immediately or any other well though out structure.
This is the time for Mr. President to win the hearts and minds of the youth. Let him create a welfare package for students who are the victims of this dragged out war between the FG and ASUU.
Let him bring Goodluck to the students. If he can let him play his joker.
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