Effects Of Asuu Strike On The Quality Of Pharmacy Education In Nigeria; An Assessment Of Pharmacy Schools In South Eastern Nigeria

Effects of ASUU Strike on the Quality of Pharmacy Education in Nigeria; An Assessment of Pharmacy Schools in South Eastern Nigeria

Chijioke Maxwell Ofomata, Sochima Jude Egolum

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Awka. Anambra State. Nigeria

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.903SEDU0023

Received: 19 December 2024; Accepted: 28 December 2024; Published: 10 February 2025

ABSTRACT

Education institutions in Nigeria have experienced socio-educational consequences due to the Academic Staff Union Universities (ASUU) power to call out workers. The decline in the quality of education among Nigerian institutions of higher learning is exacerbated by persistent strikes. Pharmacy education is crucial for producing skilled pharmacists, but the Federal Government’s negligence in agreements with the ASUU has led to longer strikes lasting up to 8 months. This study examines pharmacy education in South Eastern Nigeria following the university staff union-organized strike action. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in Anambra and Enugu states, Nigeria. The study involved undergraduate Pharmacy students and was conducted using a random sampling technique. The sample size was 340 students, with 340 selected from each level. Lecturers of the two faculties were also sampled. A structured hybrid questionnaire was developed and validated, and data analysis was performed using a statistical package for social science (SPSS version 27). The ASUU Strike negatively impacted Nigeria’s Pharmacy Education, with more than 52% admitting negative effects on their academics. Students disagree that the strike improved performance, leading to delays in graduation and a lack of quality lectures and practical classes. The strike also affected research opportunities for pharmacy students while exposing them to anxiety, depression, and social vices. Strikes cause academic delays, limited resources, reduced faculty engagement, hindered research and training, and decreased motivation. Longer strikes also negatively affect lecturers’ finances and quality of life.

Keywords: Strike, Pharmacy Education, ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)

INTRODUCTION

A Strike is defined by Webster’s dictionary as a refusal to work by employees of an organization or group because of a disagreement for example pay or condition (Federation et al., 2022). Education is the aggregate of all the processes by which a child or adult develops their ability, attitudes, and other behaviors that are of positive value to society (Campbell, 2006). The education institution is an aggregate of the process of transmitting relevant and ideal knowledge, value, skill, and training of individuals through various agencies of education, especially schools. However, overtime strike actions have been used as a veritable tool of labor or management negotiation tactics. The downturn and the degradation of the Nigerian economy in the past decade, have created socio-educational consequences from the emergence of various strike actions by the Academic Staff Union Universities (ASUU) (Olabamiji and Inabo, 2022). The actions of the union in the educational institutions in Nigeria are much more powerful as they have the legitimate power to call out workers on strike.

It is common knowledge that students forget what they have learned from the school during strike actions. Thousands of students also undergo deviant paths at the same time and get involved in drug addiction, kidnapping, stealing and so many negative deeds in societies. This is a result of idleness, without anything to do, rather spending their days struggling instead of going to lecture halls and spending their nights watching movies instead of reading their books (Abubakar Muhammad Usman, 2022).

Incessant strikes have left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s educational system, with students facing prolonged stays in universities, and many facing frustration, leading to a rise in emigration among students seeking stable and uninterrupted education abroad, whereas those unable to afford foreign education, suffer loss of motivation, increased unemployment, and even involvement in social vices (Cynthia Arewa, 2024)

It is now altruism that the credibility of Nigerian degrees has slid to a very great extent. Employers often question the competence of graduates from a system plagued by disruptions, making Nigerian universities struggle, in global ranking, to compete with their counterparts in other African countries like South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya, where academic calendars are very stable (Cynthia Arewa, 2024)

Pharmacy education in Nigeria is crucial for producing skilled pharmacists to meet the growing demand for quality healthcare services (Nouri et al., 2020). Accredited schools are managed by the federal government, but negligence in agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities has led to long-lasting strikes, lasting up to 8 months or longer.

Statement of the problem

Strike action in Nigeria’s educational sector is of significant concern, affecting both academic and non-academic staff in tertiary institutions. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) faces conflicts over funding, university autonomy, and improved working conditions with causes including government violations of university autonomy, conflicting perceptions, policies, goals, misunderstanding, unfulfilled promises, and unpaid allowances (Uzochukwu et al. 2021). Pharmacy students and lecturers are directly affected by ASUU strikes, which disrupt the academic calendar and lead to a lack of consistent teaching and learning activities. This has negatively affected the quality of education for pharmacy students and may impact the quality of graduates produced by Nigerian pharmacy schools.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ASUU strikes on pharmacy education in Nigeria and identify potential solutions to mitigate the negative impact of these strikes.

Significance of the study

The ASUU strike has significantly impacted the quality of pharmacy education in Nigeria. It disrupts the academic calendar, leading to loss of contact hours and delayed syllabus completion. This study aims to identify gaps in education quality during and after the strike period, as well as workforce readiness, as pharmacy graduates are expected to provide healthcare services to the public. The study also contributes to the body of knowledge on the impact of ASUU strikes on pharmacy education in Nigeria. Overall, the study of the effects of the ASUU strike on pharmacy education in South Eastern Nigeria is significant as it gives insight into the impact of the strike on workforce readiness, and educational quality as well as research contributions among others.

Objectives of the study

The objective of studying the effects of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike on pharmacy education in Nigeria is to:

1. Examine how the prolonged industrial actions had affected pharmacy education in Nigeria.
2. Examine the extent to which the ASUU strikes impacted curriculum coverage, practical training, and general academic performance of pharmacy students.
3. Explore the views and perceptions of pharmacy students and lecturers on the effect of these ASUU strikes.

Limitations of the Study

This study was conducted only in two federal universities in South Eastern Nigeria. The study may not be generalized to cover the perspective of the whole Pharmacy schools in Nigeria. The study sample size was not met due to time constraints, busy schedules, and unavailability of some of the Pharmacist Lecturers, also for the students the busy schedule and high frequency of academic activities led to the sample size not being met.           

Research method

The design for the study was a descriptive survey design. The study was aimed at investigating the effects of ASUU strikes on pharmacy education in Nigeria and identifying potential solutions to mitigate the negative impact of these strikes. The study population involved undergraduate Pharmacy students from levels 300- 500 of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Random sampling was used to select respondents among the students. It also involved lecturers of the two Pharmacy schools. The two schools were used as they were the only federal schools in the region affected by the ASUU strike. The sample size for students was 340 and the sample size for lecturers was 150.

The instrument used for the collection of data was a structured hybrid questionnaire which was developed and validated by the researchers and two other lecturers. It contained all the necessary data to be collected from the students and lecturers. The questionnaire consists of different sections and relevant questions about the research study’s aim and objectives. Section 1 contained questions that were used to collect the demographic information of respondents. Section 2 investigated a general overview of ASUU strikes. This involved sections including Impact on education, Impact on Lecturers, Government and future outlooks, Academic Impact, Financial, social, and behavioral impact. All questions were made close-ended by using tick boxes. Pilot testing of the questionnaire was conducted to check its validity. The questionnaire was in English language.

The data collated from the research tool was analyzed using a statistical package for the social science (SPSS version 27.0).

RESULTS

133 questionnaires were administered for lecturers and 94 returned filled giving a response rate of 70.7%. Of the 94 respondents, 43 (45.7%) were from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and 51 (54.3%) were from University of Nigeria Nsukka. Out of 340 questionnaires administered for students, 257 returned filled giving a response rate of 75.6%. Out of the 257, 95 (37%) were from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and 162 (63%) were from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

From the result obtained, the demographic characteristics of the respondents, for lecturers, 46 (48.9%) were male and 48 (51.1%) were female while for students, 131 (51%) were male and 126 (49%) female. For the age range of respondents, most of the lecturers fell within the age range of 46-55(35.1%) while for students, most fell within the range of 18-25 (68.9%).

Table 1. The impact of the ASUU strike on Pharmacy Education

Table 2. Impact of ASUU strike on lecturers

Table 3. Lecturers on the section of Government and Future Outlook

Table 4. The impact of the ASUU strike on Pharmacy education (students)

Table 5. The student’s respondents on the effects of the ASUU strike on their academics

Table 6. Student respondents on the financial, behavioral and social impact of ASUU strikes

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Most of the respondents agreed that the ASUU strike has had some negative impact on Pharmacy education, which according to research (Ntiasagwe, 2021) showed ASUU strikes have had some negative impact on the university curricula. Results of the study showed ASUU strike negatively affects lecturers and students including their research activities, and morale as well as their accessibility to teaching and study materials. The lecturers disagreed that the ASUU strike achieved the noble objectives of lecturers. The lecturers and students agreed that the ASUU strike negatively affected the students and disagreed that there had been positive effects of the strike on students this is similar to research  that (Ntiasagwe, 2021) at Imo State University which showed students were negatively affected, as they were always on the receiving side of the strikes, which includes their academic performances, prolonged years stayed in school, and questionable academic certificates by foreign universities, as these certificates fail to favorably compete with their peers outside the country, especially schools from some more stable African Universities, as opined by Cynthia Arewa in research on Effects of strike actions in year 2024 . Lecturers indicated that the ASUU strike has negatively affected the finances of university lecturers and their quality of life. This is in line with the fact that lecturers were not paid for the last 8 months’ strike as the federal government insisted on no work no pay. Respondents believed that the Nigerian government is not interested in making investments in the educational sector of the economy. In a study, (Uzochukwu et al., 2021) stated that the government’s nonchalant attitude and lack of commitment to the welfare of university education in Nigerian is contrary to the amazing and wonderful goals/objectives of tertiary education stipulated in her National Policy on Education which is now unachievable as the government has no interest in the educational sector, indicating urgent need for government to make a robust investment in the educational system of the country. Respondents agreed that ASUU strike action has delayed the graduation of Pharmacy students in Nigeria, this is similar to Olukunde’s (Edinyang and Ubi, 2013) assessment of the situation asserting that the disruption to academic programs by the ASUU strikes give students an undeserved year of extension to their study. The students agreed that the ASUU strike has affected research opportunities for pharmacy students. This is a result of academic activities being halted during strike actions. Students agreed they are unmotivated and hence discouraged from studying their books during strike actions and hardly cope with the excessive academic pressure that comes upon them after each strike action. The students agreed that they experience so much stress and anxiety as a result of strike actions which is similar to the study by Ajayi, 2013 in Ntiasagwe, 2021 which stated that students are at the mercy of a situation completely out of their control and they have no idea when the strike will end. The students believe the federal government does not pay adequate attention to Pharmacy education as indicated by the results obtained from the study.  Students involved in the study believe that strike actions have negatively affected their plans and opportunities,  which is in line with (Ntiasagwe, 2021) as it was found that students were impacted negatively by the strikes concerning their university education.

CONCLUSION

The study showed the negative effects of the ASUU strike on Pharmacy education, as well as the toll it takes on lecturers, most especially the students. The study identified that strikes lead to academic as well as graduation delays, limited resources to students and lecturers, and reduced faculty engagement. Research and practical training are also hindered which may lead to the production of half-baked pharmacists. Student motivation and academic performance decline during prolonged strikes. The finances and quality of life of lecturers are also heavily affected.

RECOMMENDATIONS

More studies on this topic should be made in other regions of the country to fully ascertain the gross impact of ASUU strikes on the Quality of Pharmacy education in Nigeria.

Establish open lines of communication between the faculty and students to ensure timely updates and plans during strike situations.

Encourage dialogues between ASUU, government representatives, university administrators, and student representatives to address grievances and prevent future strikes.

Develop effective conflict resolution mechanisms between ASUU and government bodies to minimize the frequency and duration of strike actions.

Strengthen support services such as counseling and academic advising to help students cope with the challenges of strike-induced disruptions.

Develop strategies to ensure that ongoing research projects can continue during strike periods, including access to essential resources and supervision.

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