By Muhammed Salihu Maigoro
The Muslims Students’ Society of Nigeria of Faculty of Social Sciences of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, has organised an annual inter-department debate competition.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that this year’s edition was between six departments of the faculty. It is usually organised at the every end of academic session.
The debate was held on the 8th of July in the faculty mosque, the event had the attendance of both male and female students.
Participants described it as impressive as the speakers distracted the audience attention with crucial points regarding the current situation of the Nigeria workers and educational system.
The topics of the debate are as follows:
Group A: ( parliamentary system is the best alternative to the presidential system in Nigeria.
Taken by political science department vs sociology department)
Group B: ( the current education system in Nigeria is adequate for preparing students for the modern workforce)
This topic is between department of mass communication vs international studies department.
Group C: ( the current minimum wage of #30000 is sufficient for the Nigerian workers)
The above topic gets supported by the Economics department and opposed by Social Standard department.
Eventually, the debate was opened by the speaker from the Economics Department who supported the motion which says, the current Nigeria minimum wage of #30000 is sufficient for the Nigerian workers. He subsequently mesmerised the audience with the series of points that encompass the possible ways a Nigerian minimum wage earner should follow to manage his/her salary.
The ways which associated reduction of self or family responsibilities, and buying cheaper affordable foodstuff that would sustain him till the end of the month, the speaker said.
The second speaker was from Social Standard Department who opposed the motion that #30000 minimum wage can not sustain the workers in Nigeria, considering with hyper inflation of commodities in everyday shopping market.
He also criticised the #30000 minimum wage, which said the salary might not even feed the household rather than extra responsibilities like children school fees, NEPA bills, Health care, transportation fare to work place and other sudden home management.
Meanwhile, Political Science Department vs Sociology Department who opposed that, home grown parliamentary system of government is not an alternative for the good governance and better life for Nigerians.
By further expressing that the problem of Nigeria is not the change of system of governance rather having good leaders with the mindset of developing the country to the next level. Who would make our education fully equipped with better staff salaries, infrastructure, and payable school fees for the poor masses.
According to him, any country that cannot provide sustainable salary and remuneration to their workers, availability of food, adequate of educational background beneath the grassroots, that country could not develop, and this is the number one problem of Nigeria that is always putting us backwards comparing to our counterparts.
Secondly, the issue of corruption by the majority of our leaders. Almost no political leader today in Nigeria that has not been invited by EFCC over corruption allegation. If we can’t fight corruption in our minds, definitely development would remain far away from us. Therefore, the return of parliamentary system of government in Nigeria is not the best alternative, the solution is beyond periphery, but critical, just, and just leadership.
So, also the second speaker from Sociology Department who support the motion that home grown parliamentary system of government is the best alternative to the current presidential system in Nigeria.
He mentioned things like the establishment of first generation University across the three geopolitical zones, exploration of crude oil, and enhancing agriculture within the northern Nigeria.
At the end of the debate organised under the supervision of the MSSN committee of the Faculty of Social Sciences, based on decision of the panelists Social Standard Department from Group C emerged winner with overall marks over Economics Department.
While Political Science Department from group A emerged winner with a margin over Sociology Department, bringing the debate to a joyous halt.
