ASUU Strike -6 students share their opinion on how the strike has impacted them

ASUU Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is a Nigerian union of academic staff, founded in 1978. The union embarked on a six-month strike in 2013, a one-week strike in 2014, a thirty-six days strike in 2017, a nine-month strike in 2020, and also embarked on a strike in 2021. Once again, ASUU is on another strike. Although students in private universities can’t relate to this, the strike has greatly impacted students in Federal Universities, either positively or negatively. In this article, six students talk about how the ongoing ASUU strike has impacted on them

Students opinion

Well, the strike has both positive and negative impacts on me. But more of negative, mainly because it’s affecting our calendar badly. UI is just starting barely in week 2 before the strike started, I need my transcript in December or January because I’m in my final year, but I don’t think I can get that anymore, now this little time spent can cost me to spend a year just because ASUU strike delayed my thing which I needed my transcript for.

So basically, that’s the major negative impact. But looking at the bright side, I’ve been able to relax a bit, pour more energy on my business, make some cash and you know, every other thing a student can do while on strike. But that’s not enough reason to still clamor for the strike to continue because it has more harm than good to me, that’s why I will conclude that generally, the ASUU strike has affected me negatively.

-David, University of Ibadan (400level)

The ASSU strike had a positive impact on me. Most of the students at my school were not psychologically ready for the new school year. It was literally a rush. Also, I feel many students couldn’t afford to pay their fees for the new school year just yet so I guess this strike will give them an opportunity to gather up the needed funds.

Emmanuel, University of Abuja (400 level)

Actually, It has both positive and negative effects. Its negative effects are the fact that we’re just in our second semester. When others are moving fast, we’re stuck here. Now the number of years you planned to spend in the university has been extended because we’re not even sure when the Federal Government will pay ASUU. and when we now resume, lecturers won’t take it easy on us because everyone is rushing to complete their scheme of work for the semester before we write exams. It is also positive because the school’s stress was really too much and I think it’s time to rest small

-Medara, University of Uyo

For real it has impacted me both positively and negatively. Positively because I have the opportunity to work full time and get paid a huge salary. But negatively in the sense that I want to graduate early and being held back is a setback in my timeline

-Empress, University of Port-harcourt (200 level)

ASUU has negatively affected me because my project is on hold for now and I don’t know when the graduating list will be out because our exams have not yet been marked. However, It has affected me positively because I get to focus more on my small business and save for NYSC

-Aishat, University of Ilorin (Final year)

To me, there are both negative and positive sides to this strike situation, but the negative part outweighs the positive part. On the positive side, I can use this period to build myself- develop my talents and skills, On the negative side, Students are being delayed. Those in levels lower than my level in private universities will finish before I do, Federal universities are wasting our time and at a point it makes the student lose hope and trust in the system

-Majesty, University of Uyo (300 level)