The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, says Nigeria cannot afford to introduce tuition fees in the Nigerian university system now. The ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, disclosed at the National Summit on Tertiary Education Reform 2022, organised by the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in Abuja.
He said that considering the level of poverty and corruption in Nigeria, it would be unfair for the government to put more burdens on parents. “The students are already paying too many fees in the universities. They cannot be made to pay more”.
He noted that government needs to invest in the welfare of lecturers and inject funds into the education system to improve the system. Prof. Osedeke also noted that there is a systemic problem in Nigerian universities that has nothing to do with funds.
Also speaking at the panel discussion, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Raji Fashola, said that tertiary education was a concurrent activity. He noted that only the federal government should not be allowed to fund education.
The minister also advised universities to diversify their funding channel. He said that the question of ownership of universities should be resolved. Similarly, the President of the University of Lagos Alumni Association, Dr. John Momoh, said that universities need to indulge their alumni associations for funds.
He noted that there is a need for the exchange of ideas and services between the schools and the business community. University professors on the panel discussion pointed out those professors were employed for research and not as business people.
Prof. Uduak Ekpo, of the University of Calabar, said that expecting lecturers to become fundraisers would be a distraction. The theme of the National Summit on Tertiary Education Reform 2022 is “Reimagining Tertiary Education in Nigeria: issues, challenges, and Solutions”
Dominica Nwabufo
