A Nigerian has embarked on a crowdfunding mission to get university students back to school. Ordinary President, Ahmad Isah, who hosts the popular TV and Radio program, Berekete Family, has opened a bank account, soliciting for funds from Nigerians to settle the financial scuffle between the Nigerian government and the Nigerian universities’ union.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike for nearly four months now, resulting in the closure of public universities across the country. ASUU is asking for N18 billion to clear the salary backlog and improve public university education.
The Nigerian government has reneged on agreement it previously reached with the Union, and has shown no sign of readiness to yield to its demands. This has made it difficult for the union to call off the strike on account of the government’s promises.
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The government also appears more focused on the polity as the 2023 elections draw close. This has left the students to atrophy at home. With both the government and ASUU not ready to yield, Nigerians are now taking the matter into their own hands.
“No be shameful thing to support your mama and papa. We go support the Federal Government of Nigeria. Let us intervene and raise N18 billion to support and end ASUU strike,” Isah said in a post on Twitter.
“This #ASUU intervention donation shall determine how can turn things around in this country. Your N50, N100, N200, N300, N400, or N500 – N1 billion will make a difference. What are you waiting for? Please Nigerians, shout it out and make sure you donate,” he added after sharing the designated bank account details for the crowdfunding, where he has reportedly made a N10 million donation.
Signatories to the account are the Acting Accountant General of the federation, ASUU president and Secretary.
Besides Isah, students have also called on presidential aspirants to make donations to send students back to school. Last month, the Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a nationwide students’ movement, urged political parties to consider donating 40 percent of proceeds from sale of forms to ASUU.
The idea is becoming popular due to the recent happenings in Nigeria’s political space, where presidential aspirants under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) are paying a whopping N100 million for a nomination form.
“In the interest of national development, we strongly believe that donating 40 percent of proceeds from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to ASUU will immediately see schools reopening.
“This call follows the continued ASUU strike and the failure of the government to yield to its demands as signed in a 2009 agreement, by the then administration even as we understand government is a continuum.
“We wish to urge political parties to consider donating 40 per cent of the total proceeds from the sale of forms to ASUU in the best interest of Nigerian students and youths,” National President of PSM, Mr Bestman Okereafor, told NAN.
The leader of the movement said political parties should see the donation as an opportunity to attract student voters.
“Such political party or parties will tend to enjoy the massive support and votes of Nigerian students.
“We are aware that some political parties have so far generated over N19 billion from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms.
“We are optimistic that should such a gesture be offered by political parties, the government will be left with no option other than settling the remaining balance of ASUU demands,” he said.
Since the political actors have failed to heed this call, Isah’s crowdfunding move has become the closest solution to the lingering ASUU’s industrial action that has paralyzed academic activities in government universities.