When the strike started in February [2022], some students may have assumed it wouldn’t last more than a month — it was a four-week warning strike, after all.
But when the strike kept extending till it was declared indefinite, many students were like:
Welp! Time to secure the bag
The strike is finally over, and students are expected to resume school by October 24 [2022]. What happens to those who already secured jobs during this period to make good use of the by-force holiday? I asked seven of them about their plans, and here are their answers.
“I’m not smelling school till next year”
— Yewande, 25, Master’s student, Unilorin
I sat at home for the first five months of the strike before I landed my current human resources job in Lagos. It wouldn’t make sense to just up and leave when I’ve not even spent six months.
Sure, they know I’m a student and may understand, but honestly, I don’t even want to go. ASUU themselves said their demands haven’t been fully satisfied. What’s to say they won’t start another strike next month? Which lecturer would even want to resume after being owed since February?
They’ll be alright. My focus now is my job. Some graduates don’t even have jobs, so I can’t abandon mine for people who can change their minds in one minute. I’ll go back to school, but that’ll be in January.
“I had to abandon my internship”
— Joke, 19, first-year student, EKSU
My school’s management ordered the resumption of school activities ahead of the ASUU strike call-off, so I had to go back around September [2022] for practicals.
It was really painful because I’d just got an internship with this real estate company in Lagos in late August [2022]. They were even going to give me a stipend, and it would’ve been my first professional work experience, but I didn’t get either.
ASUU and co, well-done o.
“I’m still keeping my job”
— Kunle, 20, third-year student, Unilag
I got a virtual assistant job in August [2022], and it’s been great. With school resuming now, it’ll likely be very tough because the job is demanding. But I’ll just find a way around it.
It’s too soon for me to request leave from work, so that’s out of the question. If worse comes to worst, and exams start, I’ll form sickness and take sick leave. School is important, but money is importanter.
RELATED: “Let the ASUU Strike Continue” — These 5 Students Are More Interested in Making Money Online
“My business will likely take a bad hit”
— Jane, 23, final-year student, UI
My elder sister helped me start a mini fashion supply business last month [September 2022]. Since I’m based in Lagos, I have easy access to Balogun market. So, I post stuff on my WhatsApp and supply them to people.
Now that the strike is over, I need to return to Ibadan. It doesn’t seem financially prudent to continue because I’ll have to include dispatch fees. How much would my profit be?
I’m not happy because I was just getting the hang of the business, but at least I finally get to go back to school and start thinking of graduation.
“This isn’t what we planned, ASUU”
— Goke, 20, second-year student, FUNAAB
I started an internship in September [2022]. I confidently started a physical one because I’d concluded the strike would stay on till next year, especially since our government is more interested in the campaigns.
Now, I’m forced to leave without giving the company adequate notice. This isn’t what we planned, ASUU.
“I’m more than happy to go back to school”
— Ann, 19, second-year student, Unilag
Since the strike started in February, I’ve been teaching at a school close to my area. The money is trash — just ₦8k — but I took it so I wouldn’t have to stay home.
Immediately I got confirmation of the strike call-off, I resigned. School is stressful, but at least, I’ll get an allowance and live my best baby girl lifestyle.
“I can’t afford to go back just yet”
— Mide, 23, final-year student, EKSU
I got a teaching job just like most of my peers did. But unlike them, I can’t afford to resign now. Firstly, I usually get paid in the first week of the new month, so I have to stay till November [2022] at least.
Still, I’m considering staying till December because final year is expensive, and I need to make sure I’m loaded. I’m also confident my landlord at school will start disturbing me for payment once he sees me. I don’t even have time to think about it now. I just need to have money.
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