"Nigeria's Priorities: Addressing Economic, Educational Challenges Over Religious Rhetoric"

By Sani Bello Hamza

Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

October 18, 2025 (Series News Online)

The recent campaign of alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria has sparked a polarized debate in the National Assembly and raised concerns about national unity. However, this narrative seems to be a mere distraction from the country's real issues, including a struggling economy, dilapidated infrastructure, and poor security architecture.

According to Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman, a renowned historian, "The real basis of the manipulation of religion in Nigeria today is the need to obscure from the people of Nigeria a fundamental aspect of our reality: that is the domination of our political economy by a class of intermediaries who are being increasingly exposed." This quote aptly describes the current state of our nation, where religion is being used as a shield to disguise the inherent pitfalls in our economy.

The alleged Christian genocide narrative appears to be sponsored to divert attention from the government's failures, including the economy, security, and education. Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike, demanding better working conditions, revitalization of universities, and a review of the funding mechanism for higher education.

The strike has led to a prolonged closure of universities, causing untold hardship to students and their parents. While some people believe ASUU is right in its demands, others think the strike is ill-timed and only serves to further undermine the already battered university education system.

However, one thing is certain: the demands of ASUU are reasonable and attainable. The Federal Government needs to take concrete steps to address the issues raised by ASUU, including a living wage for lecturers, improved funding for universities, and a sustainable solution to the challenges facing higher education.

The proliferation of universities as constituency projects is another issue that needs to be addressed. Instead of building new universities without adequate funding and manpower, the government should focus on revitalizing existing institutions and providing them with the necessary resources to function effectively.

The issue of third-party deductions from lecturers' salaries is also a matter of concern. The government should find a way to resolve this issue amicably and ensure that lecturers are paid their full salaries without any deductions.

In conclusion, the alleged Christian genocide narrative and the ASUU strike are symptoms of a larger problem that requires urgent attention. The government needs to address the real issues affecting the country, including the economy, security, and education, rather than using religion as a distraction. By doing so, we can move forward as a nation and build a brighter future for our children.