Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), expressed his criticism of the education sector during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, describing it as disastrous. He lamented that the government allocated a mere five percent to the education sector, which was the lowest in the country’s history. He also pointed out that salaries of some lecturers had been withheld for up to 30 months, and others had not received the consequential adjustment payments made two years ago.
In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, the ASUU President advised President Bola Tinubu to appoint a competent minister for education, someone who truly understands the importance of education. He emphasized that the minister should have a genuine concern for Nigerian students and should have a personal connection to the education system, such as having their family members enrolled in Nigerian schools.
Professor Osodeke further expressed his disappointment with the lack of funding for universities during Buhari’s administration. He compared the meager funding of universities to the extravagant salaries of government officials, highlighting the disparity and the negative impact it had on the education sector.
Regarding the expectations of ASUU from the present administration, he noted that past leaders had not given sufficient attention to the growth of the education system, especially in terms of funding. He compared Nigeria’s education budget to that of other West African countries, which allocate a much higher percentage of their budgets to education. He also criticized the trend of prominent individuals sending their children abroad for education, leading to a lack of investment and interest in improving the Nigerian education system.
Professor Osodeke advocated for universities to be given more autonomy and for the proper management of funds provided by the government and TETFund to ensure each university receives its fair share. He also highlighted issues with the implementation of IPPIS (Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System) in universities, which resulted in delayed salaries and unfulfilled payments for lecturers.
In summary, Professor Osodeke expressed his concern over the state of the education sector during Buhari’s administration, emphasized the need for a competent and committed education minister, and called for increased funding and autonomy for universities to address the challenges facing the Nigerian education system.
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