 Alright thanks for staying with us now education helps us get exposure to new ideas and concepts that we can use to appreciate and improve the world around us and the world within us. Education is a tool that breaks down all barriers education is part of the foundation of all progress and growth both as an individual and as a society. All things are possible because anything can be learned. Now on the 14th of February 2022 the academic staff union of universities, that's ASU, again dared the federal government by declaring a four week warning strike, having waited to no avail for the latter. Now students have been out of classes since then and Vanguard reports that the precedent national association of Nigerian student NAS come right Sunday as safe home on Thursday accused Nigerian leaders of ignoring the plight of students who are at the receiving end of the ongoing strike action and backed upon by the academic staff union of universities as ASU. ASU strike is almost turning into a norm in our educational system and we need a permanent solution and which is why we are asking today can Nigeria truly afford to pay universities this 220 billion narrow annually debt is part of what they say that they have agreed upon. Is Nigeria capable of paying this amount of money to the universities? Is the government capable? Now today we are having a bit of challenge we do not have our WhatsApp and SMS number so when we open our phone lines we just love to hear what you have to say. Alright so ladies I saw the video right our dear Annetta Felix doing us proud. She did a research she spoke to a few students right and when I and the president of ASU and she spoke to a few lecturers that are lecturing abroad and it was just an interesting video to watch I mean if not seen it you can go on Annetta's pages there Annetta Felix and first of all there is a set amount in trillions that the government I think about how many trillion that the government was supposed to pay ASU but what they had agreed upon was to break it down once was yes trillion you mean so yeah yeah so they had agreed to break it down to pay the university's 220 billion narrow annually right and this negotiation the agreement was done I think in 2009 no the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement it was done in 2010 right yes you know so I'm just wondering um because I listened to a particular professor that had talked about universities abroad and this is what I always hear when they talk about universities education anywhere in the world is very expensive it's not cheap right and so what people have done abroad is first of all there are students loans for instance where the you take a loan and immediately you start to yes immediately you start to work you begin to pay back so it is almost like they will give you like a jail term if you do not even pay that money that's on one hand so that keeps the funds of the university flowing right on another hand is most people most universities are not funded by the government right it is funded by private private individuals companies yes the association's alumni you know there are so many bodies that come together into ensuring that the quality of education is delivered at that premium that we see and we always want to go to when we say we are taking our kids or we are going abroad to go and study so you know I've argued this thing time and time again and I keep on saying but people will argue and say if you leave if you privatize for instance something like education what you do is you're disenfranchising the poor people that they will not be able to afford it but if ASO is asking for 220 billion right let me even ask this first question can Nigeria even afford to pay them that amount of money given the situation of things that we have you're not a nice person you're just a you're just something else no I do not I do not I would love to hear what you have to say you will try to repeat my topic I mean in the name of my show you don't have anything to say let us just put it online no we are on point I'll say we're gonna start from I don't want to pick it from some of the things you've said like student loans it's a fantastic idea I mean when I was watching that video you shared it made sense but it would be difficult for them to implement it because there are no jobs so if they give you a loan to go to school where's the job to make up for it that there is no job to make up for it right and like you said education is not cheap what is our minimum which we are still quarreling 18,000 and 30,000 right I think I saw something about it it doesn't it doesn't seem to fall out of how many states 36 days right so if if they give you the loan how many years would you work to be able to pay back that right then begin to now build your life as a person because what you're even being paid if I let's not even go far there are no jobs so they should start by placing jobs first and I said something about the people who really run education in advanced words like privates people NGOs and all and it reminded me of PAU right you know PAU is owned by an NGO and if you go there standard is what they look out for no matter how much is going to cost the first step is standard right um but it also reminded me of the story you took um Ushibadro and the group Ushibadro supports them they are gathering money and they are buying form of 100 million so if they are ready to buy form of 100 million it means that if he I mean this is a big if if it becomes the party flag bearer right they are ready to sponsor his campaign and that's to tell you how much our priorities are misplaced as a people right um I mean I'm not going to hold brief for anyone or blame one person for the problems of Nigeria because we did not get here today it had been years and years and years of absolutely looking things we shouldn't have overlooked absolutely and corruption covenants and covenants and we're here right now so it's not going to take four years neither is it going to take eight years for things to get better true however this vice president is the same man who is in the same government and if you have this level of influence to bring people together to bring out this sort of money what has he done in terms of education even if he says yes the government is broke we don't have money and as he's on strike I've never heard him make one statement regarding as soon have you ever raised up a suggestion to say let's raise funds and build this university and education because this education we are talking about is the future of this country that you all are claiming that you want to rule or you want to lead to lead to whatever promised land you are promising so if you cannot use your influence in that area please what exactly is it that you want to do that you have not done with your auger that you are sitting down there right now right so I think that us as a people I mean I'm not going to say there aren't Nigerians who are doing a lot trust me there are people who are working they're putting back their money they're absolutely granted they're doing like we've interviewed some of them we know that things are happening but Nigerians as a whole our priorities are not right that's one and secondly we're also used to that provable always tell ourselves like if they push you against the wall you just break into the wall and keep going you know and that is what you see from that video so where students are beginning to learn treats um from hairdressing to makeup to fashion designing in fact they're not even a few to go back to school because for them if they're done with school what exactly is they're going to do yeah so for most of them but I even have a niece who she does fashion designing she's just in 200 level she's already making money people give her clothes she shows and all that they're not they're not interested because the picture after school is not looking good so I just want to touch quickly on something you said and I come to Norma because part of what the lecturer was talking about you know I remember when I was in school right James Bore was our governor then when I was in school we had foreign lecturers I had a foreign lecturer come to do like a cross posting you know where she came from on them what do they call that this is not sabbatical that's the name I can't remember the name exchange whatever to come lecture in our school and you can imagine the excitement excitement that we had as students you know it's our one village you know that we had we could you know do those exchange programs with our lecturers going abroad and they come into Nigeria so I get this part of priority and I think that is where the issue is because if we come back to this question can Nigeria truly afford to pay this 220 billionaire and only to ask yes they can afford to pay it but are they even placing priority where it should be right that is now the big question but let me hear your thoughts Nomadina come back it's still on priority right because when you think about it education I think it's the quotes that you mentioned at the beginning education is an integral path of growth in any given society when people are enlightened when people have a say in the decisions and decision making process for the outcomes of their lives then it's easier to channel them in the right direction and the more people who are exposed to quality education or learnings that help them or empower them to become better people that the better quality of human beings that we're able to turn out now where our priority lies as a nation we have seen it over time in the kind of leaders that we've been able to turn out and the kind of decisions they make on our behalf in today's case we're talking about education I don't know about you but as far back as when I went to university there was a fact one of the first uh what will I call it uh uh induction or welcome welcome was after matriculation our matriculation they said we should go home for six months you know we just came wore our gowns took pictures and after that school went on strike for six months we lost a couple of years and we I don't I don't know of anyone who graduated at the time I did oh you did I did you that it must have been so that's a state university on that sorry you know on the um ibori's government even when the strikes were going around he said his own yeah so I think that happens in lawyer's world yeah so it is the priority that a couple of schools were able to um avoid that but some of us unfortunately we didn't most some okay because this is indeed the university requires a lot of funding yes it does and he pumped a lot of money into the university ensuring that the running of the school day today was not disturbed okay so let's believe that that's interesting that James Ibori is coming up in a very positive way too yeah but I was just going to say that let's believe that oh man no bad that god that government actually believed in the future of Nigeria in that regard let me take a break okay else here while we come back from the break we'll open our phone like all right so it's our latest night out if you just tuned in um and we're discussing the ASUS strike and we're asking can Nigeria afford to pay universities 220 billion naira that they are asking for annually now remember I said we do not have our whatsapp or sms line so our phone line is open please call us on 07025007749 that's the number to call 07025007749 please remember turn off the volume of your television set so we can hear ourselves so no I'm sorry I caught you I don't know have you have you recollected your thoughts I'm trying to let me come in back okay go ahead the truth of it is that the outcry has been from time yeah and this I I do not want to believe that over this period of time that it hasn't occurred to anyone in past governments to actually look into the issue that the ASUS association has raised over time they made a that professor made a number of points he said things about renegotiation of the 2009 amendment he said something about revitalization of public universities we had some governments who just said oh we are bringing up sosa university this university this university without funding so how do you carry out certain projects long-term projects like that without actually putting in the necessary funds or putting in the structure that will encourage effectiveness in that project or in that assignment that you've put out and you just give the facade that oh we're very concerned and it seems like you are not um concerned about even the students yes it is obvious that government cannot handle it alone but where I'm trying to pitch my tent is that what have they done over time to really tackle this issue let me take our first caller for the evening um okay okay for mabuja okay rea oh sorry hi thank you for calling let's hear what you have to say your life yes my contribution to the usual discussion to that basically I think is not an issue of affordability for me is um a question like you rightly mentioned priority that is the truth because true if they can give a budget of what they are giving to security to the nigeria so the nigeria air force to the nigeria living I think it cannot surpass same for education because what you're talking about I'm looking so much budget for defense for security to me that has been reactive and it's cheaper to be proactive than very active so if we put in half of that in quality education emphasis on quality at all levels into you know how to put in so much in terms of maybe defense and security because people come out or school and get quality education get essential and move on your life that's right thank you so much you know it's so interesting I was watching I think I mentioned it the day I was done watching it where oh is it terrible now I can't remember the state government that gathered the state governor that gathered all the who and who how this all was to net in 300 million wanting wanting million that they want to revitalize the educational sector in that state I think it's terrible I'm not sure now you know it's everybody all the big names you know the heavy weights the train power pushers and like Elsie rightly said if you truly understand the importance and they know they know the importance they know how important education is because you see an educated mind you cannot be tossing 2000 era and bag of rice for them for your elections you can't be using them as thugs you can't be using them as anything right so when I watched that fundraiser they raised it was in billions what they raised right but I'm looking at it first of all who is the person that I don't have a problem you raising that kind of money but we didn't follow through can they do it okay in a national thing yes you raise this fund to be able to fund as soon how much are they asking for so it's 220 billion so let me even say they really have put in infrastructure where for instance big these big companies banks and all of that say you have a rebate for taxes and they push those kinds of taxation because part of what they say they raise the money for it's from taxes they raise money to fund education from taxes so that's why when you come out of that educational system and you start to earn your salary they take it from your directly from your tax but let me take another call and then I'll come back to you ladies thank you for calling I beg you to turn down the volume here they have to cut him up go ahead you know you're going to say yes I was going to say I mean while you were talking reminded me of some you know okay I'm not to name names but there are people who are Harvard alumni for example it's almost prestigious for you to say I'm a Harvard alumni because they have this association where you can actually pay in certain monies towards funding structures in the school or do it carrying out one project or the other within the school environment for younger pay or for new students to come in to see so when you plug into something like that because you have been able to benefit from what this as this platform has to offer it'll be easy for you to be able to give back so some of those give back initiatives if they but the thing is that a lot of these things are not genuine we have a lot of insincere sincere people who call themselves our leaders let me take a demo I think he's back at do a kitty thank you for calling you're live let me say this I really appreciate what you guys are talking about on the ASU ability of argument to pay the 220 bill what you see what people don't know about this because I am part of the system is that ASU is not really fighting for improvement they are fighting for square fear we are fighting for worship of the association members people don't understand that ASU is one of the biggest problem of the university system today if you read the news you are fully as one of the universities in the month and all that they are getting accreditation accreditation accreditation and yes it's the same ASU that we go to the press and say there are no infrastructure the basic things needed to get accreditation for courses at this infrastructure they are the one that also claimed that the two AUC AUC AUC is the most consultants as their accreditors and they're the one that will go to all those students and say things are perfect so that AUC can give clearance for accreditation so where the problem of infrastructure are you the one I'm saying now now when you think about this issue of other things that phone is there is pumping over 230 billion error as interventions regularly now what are they doing with the money is the issue we must talk about now look at public universities and in federal university for example I'm not even talking about state state I just worrying them say by joining Central ASU to join this this this this problem now I will tell you are you telling me that federal universities are not sustainable they have student capacity and they are paying fee and all the rest what is the management of those universities doing with those money when the then their staff is being paid the personal cost which is oftentimes higher than in terms of budget is paid to the federal government what are they doing with their idea so this issue we need to really know ask the VCs I think the issue of going out I'll provide two solutions to this from my own idea let's every cover be paid the student school fees be paid to the central bank let's have a central distribution system for each of those schools number two let's look at alternative sources of funding for institutions there are equity arrangement financing where they can come in and people who can come in and earn the rest so this year of ASU yes is this story that salary is what I really pay for if you really want to understand the innovative energy of their demand thank you some of us who are in the in the system we know what is happening thank you thank you mola so I let me just stop there for a moment Let me listen to this lady's song Thank you so much What he said reminded me of something I read this evening about the wives of VCs Also going to Turkey for some costs or so about one point something million That they were going for a five day And I was wondering in the midst of crisis You wanna say something? I hear him and I've heard that uncle as well I think it is valid as well I mean all angles are valid if you're looking for solutions But I think the government has also failed in their own part Now from what he's saying we're still talking about the corruption issue that we always have in every sector in Nigeria Not just as of right now And you're accrediting universities that Accrediting whatever Universities that are not up to standard and all that happens But if in this conversation They are still able to point to the government to say You have not paid us our salaries or our allowances of some source It's not supposed to be So even if asu which is why Sometimes when they are fighting for these things and everybody is saying Oh it's just themselves they are fighting for They are not caring about the children Excuse me if you are working you need to be paid So if that part of the conversation was not there Trust me if this government has paid They would have come out by now to shout and say No no no we've made this payment They are still owing these people Which is not even supposed to be If you're wanting me to think from that angle It's difficult for me because asu is not the only corrupt sector in Nigeria It's not the only corrupt entity You ever be surprised that when we say we are going to pay back into CBN This will shock you I was coming to the CBN one but let me take Daniel I want to talk about that CBN one because I don't think that formula would work Daniel thank you for calling your life Yes I am Daniel Hilo A regular fan Praise the lord We are happy today I want to comment on the asu strike But I want to Is the country that broke that cannot invest That amount on education in Nigeria for a year Because I don't understand why they have to go on strike When the country can afford to invest in education Because society made a statement Which I agree that it was placed a priority Which is right Because some of our governors and senators House of reps, House of assembly They go away with billions and kilos of naira So I will not block that We don't have the money to invest in education And end the asu strike Thank you Daniel We are not that broke We can actually afford it It is just where we lay that priority We can afford much more than that We will look at the budget allocation Yes We are not a serious country I was saying that when he was talking about CBN Having a central lack That one is a complete disaster So I get that part I would have preferred a solution That can we find They are big universities running without any headache Private universities What is the structure behind the management system It's just like the way my school My children have been going from primary school All the way now to secondary school They have a body So it's not this one man business They have a board of trustees They have board of directors So when you see schools that have those kinds of structure There is always a proper structure to organize it So why can't we say I think the management of the funds Because you see that IGRA mentioned Is quite important You cannot take away that there is School fees are being paid So many things are being paid Where is the money How is it being managed So if we want to say From the eternally generated revenue How is that managed At least that internal generated funds Should be able to take care of salaries Should be able to take care of the maintenance of the School Do you know how much people Students pay for student hostels That they don't end up getting their education There is a lot of money This is how we are asking So what I am even saying is Can we find a way To create a more corporate body That constitutes the management team Of every university And let us even see how far that will go Let's get business Business executives Executives It's not going to work from a national level It has to be On a state No definitely By state Definitely Yeah So look at what you said regarding Is it Delta State now Yes And there are other states too That you can mention That they can tell you Things are happening Maybe not on this scale You are talking about And I think People need to really sit down Looking to it And begin to ask questions Because it is not just about ASU And we like this association Association thing in this country And it's still so sad that The association we like Is not helping the masses Because we just form An association If a paper seller has an association And there is nothing about The agenda of what the association Is going to do That will benefit even the people The people You just see people that want To continue their bezeling money We are the escorts Of this association And I don't know What you see And that thing Sorry Noma Those things It doesn't bring transparency So imagine a state Where Ibu Kua Wushika is coming from She would gladly with honor Sit on the board To say you know what Let us look at this Financial structure Financial structure Of your business It will not be It will not be a page up And you will be shocked At the number of people That would volunteer To say we know what We want to make this university Profitable There are so many things That can be done Noma It still speaks to the level Of sincerity of the people Involved Do they really want This structure to be in place It's a question There are so many people When they are talking about All these things It's not their problem It's not an issue for It's different When you are directly affected By the issues on ground But a case where you don't You may not be able to connect With the problems Because it's not your problem If we have more people Who can feel the pulse Of the people At the end of the day This giant war Between ASU And government Who is suffering At the end of the day Is it not the Nigerian citizens Is it not the Nigerian students Some of the videos That we watch Some of them have gone on To different things To go and learn Different skills To continue to help To be To be there So at the end of the day They are the ones suffering Until we have genuine people Who can volunteer Their services Or their expertise And create that platform Where we can now start seeing What's the word We can now start seeing Transparency Absolutely Let me take a caller I think we have a caller I'm sorry I didn't get your name Joe Oh right Joey From Sokoto Toh Salam aleikum Good evening Good evening Good evening Okay let me just correct One or two impressions The 220 billion Is not meant for ASU Is meant for the merits Of education Or any government agency To provide infrastructures In the universities Okay Secondly Every penny that comes to the university Go to the TSA account At the structurally single account Of the government So that the way the monitor What comes to the university Is through that So it's already with the CBN Or whatever Or the federal government already And so the School fees paid by students Are already subsidized Another way to solve this problem Is to remove subsidy Which has to be not supported And when I support them We cannot ask students to be paid 200,000, 500,000 The same way is being paid In private universities Because the minimum wage Is already 30,000 per month And you want even ASU members To not be able to afford 200,000, 500,000 To pay for the awards So should be careful About all these arguments So I like what you are saying, Joy But you see When you talk about Students not being able to pay For a certain amount Of what's it called, money For school fees and all of that How would we then move forward? Mia, I'm trying to find a solution Because we know globally Education everywhere in the world is not Hold on, let me finish Education everywhere in the world is not cheap Right? It's not cheap So how do we find a solution? How do we find a balance? That it gives quality education at the same time The student is not giving An arm and a leg for it Okay, you initially Did about prioritization at the other time We can really mobilize 4 trillion naira for student subsidy Which is okay, I'm not criticizing that If we have to pay it then We should pay it And here, to pay subsidies Why can't you do the same thing For universities in Nigeria How it is? Then again We've been through a number of countries Even these kind of countries where there are no school fees There are no school fees But those countries So there are no school fees They are being food-eating by students The restaurants are subsidized Their transportation is subsidized Almost everything is based on subsidy These are facts But we don't know where those take off Maybe all the western countries No, so I know But I know that most of these kinds of schools Are free In fact, there are some schools That from zero To whatever level is free education But you see, in those structures They are heavy on taxations They are heavy on... The way the government is collecting that money There's a structure that You will be able to pay back You will start paying Also to the post So that somebody else will be educated Because you got educated So it's a systemic problem And there has to be a structure That works We can't be having taxes Not being collected properly The places that we're supposed to be generating revenue Are not generating that revenue We can't have that If we have all those systems put in place Every Nigerian will go to school for free From zero to whatever level You want to go to So I like your argument, it's good We hope they are listening But ladies, I think we run out of time Else is quiet We run out of time So I'll just say that until we are ready to do things right We'll see him going round and round In circles Because you can't do anything right If you're not ready to do it right I think I'll just end it One Nigeria is ready In doing things right Our priorities have to be set right as well Do we really want Education for our Nigerian citizens Because it's the quality of citizens That we churn out at the end of the day That will either compound Or reduce the problems Already existing problems And challenges that we already have In Nigeria Thank you to everyone that called Just maybe That would ensure that Those that are in government Especially governors and presidents Everybody from council level You must have schooled in Nigeria You first You must have schooled in Nigeria Even if it's just to some form of education To your first degree Then your health You have to be here and your children Can not school outside Then I believe that we'll begin to do things It's at all levels You can be presidents here But your child is graduating from UK and then you still go there Take pictures and post it Did you see that season where all their children were graduating And we're posting it We're posting it Why wouldn't they graduate It doesn't really affect anyone Absolutely On that note, thank you to everyone that called Thank you for your messages Unfortunately we did not see them In case you sent it there before we go You follow us on Instagram So Africa you can interact with us More importantly follow all our engagements On social media like share Invite your families and friends to watch And follow the conversation Here it is again Education is the passport to the future For tomorrow belongs to those Who prepare for it today I'm really really worried about What our tomorrow looks like Based on just the educational Challenges or structure that we have We'll see you guys live tomorrow at 8pm So bring another great conversation To your screen