GREAT IFE STUDENTS’ UNION

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA OVER THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY

The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, hereby uses this medium to register our dissatisfaction over the ridiculous state of our nation which has been characterized by teeming youth unemployment, financial misappropriation, snail-like political progress, staggering economy, and massive looting of our commonwealth by the ruling class. The current situation of our country can be aptly likened to a clueless and terribly damaged one with no specific direction. It is very disheartening that a country blessed with viable human resources as well as boundless natural resources cannot boldly boast of a reasonable level of youth employment, 21st Century education system, world-class security network, present-day social amenities among other indices of economic development.

It is unfortunate that the Buhari-led Federal Government administration has displayed a total disregard for educational needs of Nigerian children and youth by allocating less than 7% of the total budgetary allocation presented to the National Assembly contrary to 26% budgetary benchmark recommended by UNESCO. With this ridiculous budget allocated to the education sector, it is apparent that students will continue to receive classes under terrible and animalistic learning conditions; there will be further infrastructural decadence, unstable academic calendars (as paucity of fund will necessarily spur industrial actions from ASUU, ASUP and other stakeholders that are committed to righting the wrongs of the FG), etc.

However, our nation is not only bedeviled by the impecunious amount of money allocated to the, arguably, most important sector of the economy. Another great cause for worry is the inactiveness and cluelessness of the Federal Government of Nigeria in tackling the menace of insecurity in the country which has inadvertently led to loss of countless lives, destruction of property and subsequent displacement of millions of Nigerians. The Fulani herdsmen’s killings and wanton destruction of farms of hardworking Nigerians (mostly Southerners) are on the increase without any effective measure being put in place by the Federal Government in curbing their excesses. We find this very disheartening and painful. This situation has further compounded the level of havoc wreaked on millions of Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect.

Also, Great Ife Students’ Union condemns the tactical killing of the #NotTooYoungToRunBill by the National Assembly after the historic bill had scaled through the huddles of first and second readings. No excuse is logical or sufficient enough to justify the obnoxious and parochial decision of the National Assembly for preventing the bill from becoming a law. It is a well-orchestrated attempt by the ruling class to exclude the youths from participating actively in the governance of the country. By removing the age barrier which has inhibited countless industrious and purpose-driven Nigerian youths from standing the chance of being elected into political offices, the bill (if passed to law) would have encouraged fresh intellectual initiatives, coordination, and clearheaded policy formulation mechanism that will herald massive development in the country.

Finally, we are using this platform to demand the presidency to make public the health condition of President Muhammadu Buhari following his rather protracted sojourn in the United Kingdom for a couple of months now. It is impossible for some individuals who do not sum up to 2% of the total population of the country to keep fooling us by perpetuating the masses in the dark as regards the facts surrounding the health of Mr. President. As promised by the APC that they would be open and accountable in all their dealings, we challenge them to tell Nigerians the truth about the actual health condition of Mr. President.

OUR DEMANDS

1. We demand that the 2017 budget be reconsidered for review in order to accommodate disbursement of additional fund to the Education Sector so as to cater for educational demands of Nigerians and then tackle issues of infrastructure deficit, understaffing, etc. Failure to attend to this national cry shall attract nationwide media campaign against the Federal Government of Nigeria for their insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian students across all levels

2. We demand the Federal Government to be more proactive in combating insecurity in Nigeria

3. We demand the federal Government of Nigeria to immediately look into the rehabilitation of Ibadan-Ife road which has been a death trap to travelers for more than a decade

4. We demand the Federal Government of Nigeria to take a serious measure towards curbing the incessant attacks on farmers by Fulani herdsmen

5. We demand the Presidency to make public the health condition of President Muhammadu Buhari

6. We demand the Federal Government as well as local and state governments owing workers to start paying up as nonpayment of workers’ salaries has greatly exacerbated the living condition of Nigerian students across all campuses

7. We demand the Minister of Education to facilitate and implement policies that will bring about exponential improvement in the sector.

Signed:
Okediji Simon (ZUMA)
Public Relations Officer, Great Ife Students’ Union

Boluwajaiye Adeoluwa (FYNESTBOI)
Secretary General, Great Ife Students’ Union

Oyekan Ibukun Edward (DR IBK)
President, Great Ife Students’ Union