Oct
2nd
NIGERIA @49;ANY HOPE FOR BETTER NATION?
By sheffman
Last week, the Chinese community in Nigeria celebrated 60
years of Independence amidst glowing tribute and commendations to
their Leaders and Heroes and Heroines, both past and present. While
ruminating on Nigerian 49th Independence Day celebration which was
just a week away as at the time China celebrated theirs, I cannot
but wonder the gap between both countries both in numbers and
economic terms.
Numerically, Nigeria is 11 years behind China in terms of Independence from Colonial Masters while sociopolitical, economical and technologically speaking, Nigeria is a long call behind China. While this paper is not particularly interested in making technical comparisons between these two countries, it is an important area of research for the purpose of knowledge acquisition and development of a path way for an all round National growth.
It is a general saying that “THE YOUTHS ARE THE FUTURE OF THE NATION”. I however have serious doubt in my mind if the Government at all levels including the elites and community leaders consider this popular saying beyond its letters. The kids and children of today are expected to move form Primary education level to the Junior and Secondary education and up the ladder to the University and other higher schools of learning. Students (at all levels) are the YOUTHS described in the above quote as THE FUTURE OF THE NATION. It is however disheartening that the Government has decided to put the nation’s future in abeyance. Hence the need to find an answer to the question of whether or not there is hope for a better Nigeria even after 49 years of Independence.
Primary and secondary school students throughout the Federation are expected to resume back to school within the last two weeks. However, this is not the case in most states of the Federation as a result of the refusal of States Government to implement the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS). The Lagos State Chapter of the Union last week reiterated its resolve to continue the ongoing strike till the state government issues a circular that will give a specific time for the implementation of the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS).
While those children whose parents can afford private primary and secondary schools fees are able to continue their studies unhindered, the children of the poor are left to roam about because the Government no longer sees it important to provide basic education which primary and secondary education offers. I ask again; at 49, is there any hope for a better Nigeria. With my understanding of the Education aspect of the Millennium Development Goals, all children who are of primary school age are to be enrolled in primary schools by 2015. Like I queried in my last post, it is yet to be seen; how serious the Government is in the achievement of the MDGs.
The University and Polytechnic students have been at home since the last three month as a result of Government refusal to grant the demands of such organized labour as the ASUU, SSANU, ASUP, NASU and such other academic pressure groups or labour unions. Despite this and its attendance effect, the Government has not only shown its nonchalant attitude to issues of National importance but has also succeeded in confirming my opinion that it is an insensitive government.
Their children are attending Universities in Europe and America including Private Universities within the country hence Government officials and the elites of our society are more than comfortable with the stalemate in the Education sector. The elites will rather donate towards Nigeria qualification for the 2010 world cup in South Africa than donate towards the upgrading of facilities in Nigerian Universities and Colleges.
I sincerely echo the sentiments of Professor Akin Oyebode (a Law lecturer at the University Of Lagos) that there is really nothing to celebrate even as Nigerians mark the 49th Independence Day celebration. What do we have to show for our 49 years of Independence? Policy failures, bad leadership, political and economic sabotage, electoral failures, successive government of deceits and pretence, poverty stricken society, increasing level of illiteracy and unemployment, energy failures, academic decadence, etc.
If will fail to adequately fund education then rather than building the Nation we are destroying it future. There will be no hope for a better Nigeria except we take the issue of education very seriously. The government needs to wake up from its slumber.
The Yar’Adua administration has failed to deliver in virtually all sectors of the economy and it is just honourable that he resigns his position as President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
I still believe in the future of this country but this might continue to be a believe rather than a reality except school children are allowed to go back to school and our Universities and Polytechnics are re-opened for academic activities. We have the resources to achieve this.
While I await Yar’Adua’s address to the Nation and planning to team up with other civil society members to protest against bad leadership in this country, I am not ruling out the possibility of a better Nigeria.
I will be the happiest man on earth if Yar’Adua will order the Federal Ministry of Education to go back to the Negotiation table with ASUU towards a final settlement of the FG/ASUU logjam while State Governors give not too distant and specific date for the implementation of the Teachers Salary Structure. Will this be part of todays’ address? Your guess is as good as mine.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Happy Independence Day Celebration.
Numerically, Nigeria is 11 years behind China in terms of Independence from Colonial Masters while sociopolitical, economical and technologically speaking, Nigeria is a long call behind China. While this paper is not particularly interested in making technical comparisons between these two countries, it is an important area of research for the purpose of knowledge acquisition and development of a path way for an all round National growth.
It is a general saying that “THE YOUTHS ARE THE FUTURE OF THE NATION”. I however have serious doubt in my mind if the Government at all levels including the elites and community leaders consider this popular saying beyond its letters. The kids and children of today are expected to move form Primary education level to the Junior and Secondary education and up the ladder to the University and other higher schools of learning. Students (at all levels) are the YOUTHS described in the above quote as THE FUTURE OF THE NATION. It is however disheartening that the Government has decided to put the nation’s future in abeyance. Hence the need to find an answer to the question of whether or not there is hope for a better Nigeria even after 49 years of Independence.
Primary and secondary school students throughout the Federation are expected to resume back to school within the last two weeks. However, this is not the case in most states of the Federation as a result of the refusal of States Government to implement the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS). The Lagos State Chapter of the Union last week reiterated its resolve to continue the ongoing strike till the state government issues a circular that will give a specific time for the implementation of the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS).
While those children whose parents can afford private primary and secondary schools fees are able to continue their studies unhindered, the children of the poor are left to roam about because the Government no longer sees it important to provide basic education which primary and secondary education offers. I ask again; at 49, is there any hope for a better Nigeria. With my understanding of the Education aspect of the Millennium Development Goals, all children who are of primary school age are to be enrolled in primary schools by 2015. Like I queried in my last post, it is yet to be seen; how serious the Government is in the achievement of the MDGs.
The University and Polytechnic students have been at home since the last three month as a result of Government refusal to grant the demands of such organized labour as the ASUU, SSANU, ASUP, NASU and such other academic pressure groups or labour unions. Despite this and its attendance effect, the Government has not only shown its nonchalant attitude to issues of National importance but has also succeeded in confirming my opinion that it is an insensitive government.
Their children are attending Universities in Europe and America including Private Universities within the country hence Government officials and the elites of our society are more than comfortable with the stalemate in the Education sector. The elites will rather donate towards Nigeria qualification for the 2010 world cup in South Africa than donate towards the upgrading of facilities in Nigerian Universities and Colleges.
I sincerely echo the sentiments of Professor Akin Oyebode (a Law lecturer at the University Of Lagos) that there is really nothing to celebrate even as Nigerians mark the 49th Independence Day celebration. What do we have to show for our 49 years of Independence? Policy failures, bad leadership, political and economic sabotage, electoral failures, successive government of deceits and pretence, poverty stricken society, increasing level of illiteracy and unemployment, energy failures, academic decadence, etc.
If will fail to adequately fund education then rather than building the Nation we are destroying it future. There will be no hope for a better Nigeria except we take the issue of education very seriously. The government needs to wake up from its slumber.
The Yar’Adua administration has failed to deliver in virtually all sectors of the economy and it is just honourable that he resigns his position as President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
I still believe in the future of this country but this might continue to be a believe rather than a reality except school children are allowed to go back to school and our Universities and Polytechnics are re-opened for academic activities. We have the resources to achieve this.
While I await Yar’Adua’s address to the Nation and planning to team up with other civil society members to protest against bad leadership in this country, I am not ruling out the possibility of a better Nigeria.
I will be the happiest man on earth if Yar’Adua will order the Federal Ministry of Education to go back to the Negotiation table with ASUU towards a final settlement of the FG/ASUU logjam while State Governors give not too distant and specific date for the implementation of the Teachers Salary Structure. Will this be part of todays’ address? Your guess is as good as mine.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Happy Independence Day Celebration.
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