STRIKE, A MAJOR CLOG IN THE WHEEL OF THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SECTOR

(a case study of Federal university of agriculture makurdi)

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The Nigerian educational sector have experienced huge setbacks for a long time because of the issue of strike; the so-called reason for the strike is due to the inability of the federal government of Nigeria to meet up with the teachers, lecturers and other educational bodies demands either for the increase in salary or for non payment of salary by the federal government of Nigeria. The issue of strike have become a major clog on the educational sector; as at 1st july 2013, federal university of agriculture makurdi was strike due to the inability of the federal government of Nigeria to meet up with their retirement age request of 85 years in office. This made the academic staff of the federal university of agriculture makurdi to go on an indefinte strike. This has had a negative effect on the academic performance of students, and the scheduled year of graduation of the final year students.

The issue of strike is not only on the educational sector, it also affects the NYSC programme; there have being a question of how does the issue of strike affect the NYSC program in Nigeria, the simple reason here is that universities can not send the names of their students for the NYSC call up because of the issue of strike.

The issue of strike have a significant effect on both the incoming and outgoing students; universities can not admit new students while on strike because of the unavailability of the academic staff to conduct and admit new students.

We all know that education is an instrument of change and national development. It is a social process and the medium for the acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes for survival in a changing world as well as the strengthening of democratic institutions witnessed the world over including Nigeria.

Investing in any form of education, however, can only have theintended impact if there are well trained and competent teachers, and the implications of this is for quality teacher education inthe country.

The Universal Basic Education (UBE) program was launched in Nigeria in 1999and passed into law in 2004 as one of the strategies aimed at implementing theeducational component of the MDGs. Before the commencement of the scheme, theNigerian educational structure comprised six years of primary education, three of juniorsecondary, three of senior secondary and four of tertiary education.

Although universal primary education (UPE) was launchednationwide in 1976, long before world leaders launched the concept as one of the MDGs,limited success was achieved as attendance was not made compulsory for pupils of school-going age. With the passage of the UBE Act, all tiers of government in Nigeria were mandated to provide free, compulsory nine-year universal basic education. Parents are required to ensure that their wards register for and complete the basic education cycle. The research work will look more into the effect of strike on the educational sector using the federal university of agriculture makurdi as a case study.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The major problem with the federal university of agriculture makurdi is nothing more than the issue of strike, the federal university of agriculture makurdi being a member of ASUU most follow the rule and regulation of ASUU. The issue of strike has caused so many friction on the effective and efficient performance of the federal university of Agriculture Makurdi both in their mode of lecturning and participation in other areas of academics.

In order to meet the goals of the MDG’s, the federal government should be on their toes to provide comfort to the Nigeria educational sector.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION

In order to solve the issue of strike, the research work come up with the following to aid the further research on the issue of strike

1. what are the major causes of strike in the Nigeria educational sector?

2. what is the effect of the federal government policy on the level of strike in Nigeria?

3. what are the roles of ASUU in the resolution of strike in Nigeria?

4. Does strike have any significant effect on the academic performance of students?

5. Does student behavior have any significant effect on the level of strike in Nigeria?

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: There is no mean difference in gender responses of the respondents that students behavior have significant effect on the level of strike in Nigeria

H1: There is mean difference in gender responses of the respondents that students behavior have significant effect on the level of strike in Nigeria

H0: There is no significant relationship between the federal government policy and the level of strike in Nigeria

H1: There is significant relationship between the federal government policy and the level of strike in Nigeria

1.5 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The issue of strike have become a major concern on the minds of the students, parents and the federal government of Nigeria; the research work came up with the following objectives to help in the resolution of the issue of strike in Nigeria.

1.  To reveal the major causes of strike in the Nigeria educational sector.

2. To determine the effect of the federal government policy on the level of strike in Nigeria.

3. To investigate the roles of ASUU in the resolution of strike in Nigeria.

4. To determine the effect of strike on the academic performance of students.

5. To investigate the effect of the behavioral pattern of students on the level of strike in Nigeria.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STIUDY

The research work is an important one as it will reveal the role of the federal government and ASUU in the resolution of strike, the study will also investigate the effect of the behavioral pattern of students on the level of strike in Nigeria. Finally the research work will reveal the major causes of strike in Nigeria.

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY

The research work is meant to cover strike as a major clog on the wheel of the Nigeria educational sector, it will cover the effect strike on the academic performance.

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: the researcher is left with limited funds to get more materials concerning the issue of strike in Nigeria, but the researcher was able to make do with the materials available for the purpose of the research work.

TIME CONSTRIANTS: The researcher being a student; will be involed in other departmental activities like seminar presentation, submission of assignment etc. but the researcher was able to meet up with the time allocated for the completion of the research work.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

CLOG: clog in line with the research topic is the hinderances caused by strike on the educational sector of Nigeria.

STRIKE: in accordance to the research topic is the refusal to work; due to the inability of the federal government of Nigeria to meet up the demands of the educational sector.