We need to restructure our values, morals – Imagwe

Comrade Jude Imagwe, a former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Matter and former President of National Association for Nigeria Students (NANS) in this interview with Peoples Daily spoke on the recent call for restructuring, ASUU strike and the current cut off mark released by JAMB for universities and polytechnics which has generated controversy. Excerpts:

The call for restructuring is gaining ground by the day, what is your take?
Yes, it has become like National Anthem, but the issue is this. Why I still agree that there is reason for us as a people to have a discussion in our certain aspect of our national existence, but I still feel again that we are quick to join the bandwagon without knowing what is in the wagon. If you say we want to restructure, what is it that we want to restructure? So, we first need to identify what we need to restructure before jumping on it. Are we talking about economic, ethnic, political restructuring or our national existence? Because, if you discuss restructuring in these entire embryo, without actually narrowing it to what our challenges are. It means we have not identified the problems. How have we changed over time for us to say that we are ready for restructuring? Yes, we have challenges, but I think the first thing that should be done is for us as a people to restructure our values and morals. If these two things are given urgent consideration as everybody is guilty of them, these challenges will naturally be solved. Our values strengthen our unity and togetherness which brings peace. With this being in place, it will help our morals. With all these taking its normal shape, the country will naturally restructure itself. But all the same, if we are talking about restructuring, we should know the aspect we want to focus on.
ASUU has just embarked on indefinite strike saying that government has not met their demands, as a student leader for years, what do think will be the solution?
The problem between government and ASUU has just one clause that defines it which is responsibility on the part of government and trust on the part of ASUU. Government expects ASUU to understand that the country is passing through economic hardship and ASUU equally lacks the trust of government in keeping to its promises. Not even this alone, before now, there has been lackadaisical attitude towards government adhering to promises made during labour dispute. You will agree with me that all labour disputes end in resolution and commitment.
Several times, we have had agreements emanating from previous agreements. A labour union must not proceed on a strike before you realize there is an agreement yesterday that you have not kept. That is the part I blame government. As an institution, they shouldn’t have waited for the strike. Again, the Ministry of Labour and Employment should lead the way in mainstreaming harmonious relation with trade unions before it will get to the level of industrial action. That is why the Ministry should build synergy with all trade unions to ensure smooth operation of the system. They must not go on strike before government will react as it will affect our educational system greatly. The student body is not always taken into confidence during these ASUU negotiations and most times their demands are not even clearly known by these students. This makes it possible for students to frown at their action saying they are fighting for their own selfish interest. But if they have taken into confidence, they will now know that you mean well and they will be part it.
There are also parts of these demands that are not feasible in the light of the present circumstances. What they are demanding should reflect our economic realities. Although, government may not be able to give them all they are asking for, but should do some of it within its capacity while not forgetting others which it should do as things improve. There is need to resolve this issue immediately, because the people that will suffer is “generation next” that you are preparing to take up the mantle of leadership. We cannot afford to give them distorted calendar. The implication of these strikes is that anytime the campus is closed down for one month due to strike action, it means that you are postponing the future of our students by one month.
The cut off mark for varsity admission and polytechnic are pegged at 120 and 100 respectively by JAMB, and it has generated a lot of controversy, what do you think?
Let me ask, at what forum did the Registrar sit to come up with such calculation? Which stakeholders were consulted, where did they meet and what benchmark necessitated that? If you complain that we have an academic system that is deteriorating, action like this is evidence to it. In our days, we were struggling to score 400 for us to get admission, but then we still complain on our poor level of education. I had 347 in my JAMB, I was to read medicine but couldn’t get it. I got Micro-Biology. So, if you allow these present cut off marks, are you improving the standard of education? If Jamb feels it is tired of conducting entry exams into the universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it should hands off. Let schools conduct entry exams for their prospective students. They will set standard that will endure. Any policies like these which are critical in our national life should be deeply looked into before they are pronounced. For them to bring up any policy that concerns varsity education there is need for high level consultation with relevant stakeholders like Parents’ Association, Committee of Vice-Chancellors, the lecturers, student bodies of varsities and polytechnics and even Commissioners of Education to brainstorm on it.

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