ASUP and COESSU OYO STATE STRIKE, Media are not helping by Adebayo

ASUP AND COESSU,  OYO STATE STRIKE : Media are not helping

By Femi  Blaze Adebayo 

Since the commencement of the ongoing

strike in Oyo State,  it has become an arduous task for you

to see the headlines talking about the strike

action. The question is why the media

blackout? I remember the last time universities

were on strike, print media, television talk-

show programmes focused on it and even

granted interviews to different university

lecturers and the ASUU president which

prompted a quick response from the Federal

Government.

“However, reverse is the case with ASUP and COESSU

which can be calculated to be derailed. Are

the media now supporting ASUU against ASUP

because that could be an easy conclusion to

draw! Are the polytechnics with rich technical

background now seen as glorified secondary

schools with no value?

The fight for recognition of Nigerian

polytechnics starts from the media; if ASUP

had the backing of the media, the government

would have been pressurized to act

accordingly.  ASUP

has been on strike for over three Months,

nothing tangible has been done.

It is a multifaceted demand and it requires all

the agencies of government involved to show

goodwill and save the sector from collapse.

Parents and students should support us

because we are fighting a just cause. It is a

struggle to change the system.

The media must strive to always be conscious of

its social responsibilities toward building a sound

society for all.

This is no longer news that for some

months now the Academic Staff Union of

Polytechnics (ASUP), Oyo state chapter  has been on strike

with the masses having little or no idea of

the latest development. And the

polytechnic students do not know what

stage the FGand ASUP Representative

are in.

 Personally I felt that

it is a mare professional negligence on

the part of the media for not being fully

involved like they were during ASUU

strike.

This is unfair. I hope the media would

take it up from today. The way the media

house followed the ASUU strike

contributed in no small measure to FG

acceding to their demands. I hope the

media would also come to the aid of the

polytechnic lecturers as well.

Earlier in my article posted on this issue, I had called for

amicable resolution to the industrial dispute

between the State Government and these unions.

I wrote that both sides must consider the

interest of the students, who are always at the

receiving end.

We must always have it at the back of our minds

that whenever two elephants fight, only the grass

suffers. The grass is innocent and must be

protected.