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Economic Hardship: Nigerian Universities at Risk of Closing Down – ASUU President

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Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has raised an alert, claiming that most Nigerian universities are on the edge of closure due to exorbitant administrative costs.

He chastised the Federal Government for continually questioning the deployment of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from public universities, claiming that such amounts are insufficient in comparison to the enormous costs incurred for electricity supply, security, and accommodation, among other administrative expenses.

Prof. Osodeke made the troubling remarks on Thursday in Abuja while answering reporters’ queries at the ASUU State of the Nation Conference, with the topic “Nigeria in a State of General Crisis: The Search for a New Path to Development”.

He claimed that most public institutions receive only N15 million per month in government overhead but must pay electrical bills of N300 million or more.

Lamenting the deplorable circumstances of some academics in the country, the ASUU President stated that farming has become even more attractive for academicians, especially when a professor is forced to earn less than N300,000 per month while also supporting his family and publishing journals.

Osodeke also criticized the country’s proliferation of universities, warning that they were only staffed with skeletons because the majority of the lecturing staff had left the country in pursuit of greener pastures.

He described the situation within the university system as very disturbing, stressing that most of their members are dropping dead.

His words, “We are so challenged. But let me give you a quick example, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan Amadu Bello University, and University Nigeria, Nsuka, what they get from the government account for overhead running of the university in a month is N15million. Meanwhile, the University of Lagos needs about N200 million naira to pay electricity bill. It is this IGR that you talk about that is used to pay for the electricity.

“One of the universities today is closing down because they have been given electricity bill of N300 million naira.

“What government gives you to run the system is N15 million, and you get a bill for electricity alone of 300 million naira. Where is that money coming from? You have to run the laboratories. You have to run the diesel. You have to run the fuel for vehicles.

“That is where the IGR is going into today. Not being able to run the system, to buy books in the library, to run your library, to earn those things. They are all part of their so called IGR, and that is what they talk about it.

“But you know what? A government that will give just N15 million for UNILAG to run, will in turn, give one Senator N21 million a month. The government gives a system N15million, but an individual gets N21million. That’s where our priority is.

“For whatever reason, they have refused to fund the university systems as it was in the earlier part of our history.

“From the way we are going, if nothing is done, many universities will close up because they can not afford the so called band A and Band B”.

ASUU also disclosed how rigging is perpetuated by the political class, prompting their members to boycott voting procedures following the 2015 general elections.

According to Osodeke, academicians who still preside over elections do so in their private capacity rather than as ASUU members.

He claimed that politicians bring figures from voting stations to the presiding officer, who announces them.

He stated that rigging will be abolished if ASUU members are involved in all stages of the electoral process, from ward levels to local governments to national.

His words, “ASUU was asked to help conduct the election. That first election went well, though they were still issues. When the elections were over, we called for a meeting, put up a committee together to study what happened.

“By time they finished, they came with a report that even though our colleagues are involved in the election, rigging are done at the polling booths and local government collation centres.

“What our colleagues do is just collating what they have been given. They gave you a report, and you just write it down. So we found out that rigging is done there, and given to our members to collate.

“We went to INEC and asked that we participate from the polling unit up to the final stage and they refused. We wrote to them that ASUU, as a body, will not participate in any election.

“If you recall, before any election in this country, we will come out with a statement that we are not part of the election, but our members are Nigerians. They have their freedom, and they can go and do anything”.

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Education

Kano Govt Allocates 13% of N549b Budget to Education

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Prioritizing infrastructure, Health, and Education, Governor Abba Yusuf gave the Kano State House of Assembly a historic N549.16 billion 2025 budget.

The plan, known as the “Budget of Hope, Human Capital, and Economic Development,” highlights the administration’s commitment to development and growth by allocating 57% of funds to capital projects (N312.63 billion) and 43% to recurring expenses (N236.53 billion).

With N168.35 billion, or 31% of the total budget, education obtained the largest share in a daring move—a record for any one ministry in Kano.

Infrastructure development comes in at 12.87 percent (N70.68 billion), followed by health at 16.5% (N90.6 billion). Agriculture receives 3.83 percent (N21.04 billion), security and justice receive 4% (N23.46 billion), and governance institutions receive 17.57 percent (N98.24 billion).

“Our focus for 2025 is human capital and infrastructural development,” Yusuf stated, stressing the administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education despite limited resources. He announced plans to revive the Kano Education Development Support (KEDS) agency to support educational funding, expressing confidence that the legislature would back the initiative. “I believe the legislature will give the necessary legal teeth in fine-tuning its edict for full implementation.”

In order to strengthen governance and promote long-term growth, Governor Yusuf also emphasized suggested legislative reforms, including as laws for social protection, education trust, security, and civil service. He emphasized that a strategic focus on striking a balance between social needs and economic objectives is reflected in the 2025 budget.

He urged the Assembly to approve the plan immediately, saying, “We will not compromise in our determination to reduce poverty, restore hope, create wealth, create jobs, and stimulate agriculture for the overall well-being of our people.”

Speaker Jibril Falgore responded to the governor’s speech by pledging the assembly’s commitment to ensuring the budget is passed quickly.

“We understand the importance of timely implementation for the benefit of our people, and we will work diligently to ensure the budget is reviewed and passed promptly,” he stated.

In the upcoming weeks, the Kano State Assembly will start discussing the budget.

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Education

Council Denies Prof Abah FUHSO Acting VC Appointment

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Prof. Stephen Obekpa Abah’s purported appointment as acting Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), has been turned down by the institution’s management.

The Federal Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir S. Gwarzo, ordered the reinstatement of Prof. Innocent Ujah, the suspended Former Vice Chancellor, a move that the Governing Council has also resisted.

The statement claims that an unauthorized meeting chaired by suspended Vice Chancellor Prof. Innocent A. O. Ujah was the source of the announcement about Prof. Abah’s appointment that went viral on social media on November 5, 2024.

The institution explained that in order to get around established procedures—specifically, the Registrar’s responsibility to notify the Senate of meetings—the meeting notice was sent on the suspended Vice-Chancellor’s letterhead.

The meeting’s illegitimacy should have been brought to the attention of the Registrar, who is the Senate’s official secretary under the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (Establishment) Act of 2022.

According to the statement, Prof. Ujah’s attempts to forcibly enter the G.R.A. Otukpo Campus with armed people were thwarted by concerted security measures.

This group later released a false statement regarding the appointment of Prof. Stephen Abah, who is allegedly facing a criminal case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Governing Council reiterated that Prof. Innocent A.O. Ujah is still suspended and does not have the legal authority to call Senate meetings.

Furthermore, they stated that Prof. Ediga Bede Agbo is the duly appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor and his position is secure.

Despite being denied access, it was reported that Prof. Ujah, accompanied by armed individuals, held a small gathering at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital Otukpo, where the fraudulent meeting took place.

As a violation of university governance that has unnecessarily agitated the academic community, the Council denounced the acts of Professor Ujah and his colleagues.

They advised all community members, employees, and students to ignore any assertions made by Professor Abah and carry on with their regular administrative and academic duties.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Nasir Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary, wrote a letter protesting Prof. Ujah’s suspension. The Governing Council retorted that Prof. Ujah is still suspended and is unable to chair Senate sessions or designate a replacement.

The Council asserted that the Governing Council is the highest authority of the institution and is in charge of its general direction and governance, citing Sections 2 (1)–(3) of the Universities Miscellaneous Act 2003. Therefore, the Permanent Secretary must support the Council’s decision in a letter.

“The directive from the Permanent Secretary represents undue interference in the Council’s activities and an attempt to undermine its authority,” the statement read.

The Permanent Secretary implied awareness of a potential threat to campus peace that has not yet materialized when he claimed that the former Vice Chancellor’s reinstatement would bring peace back.

Since the old vice chancellor was suspended, the campus has remained calm and joyous. Accountability for any potential breach of peace resulting from these actions was demanded in the statement.

“The Permanent Secretary has failed to assess the current situation at the university, remaining oblivious to the widespread jubilation that followed the suspension of the former vice-chancellor,” it concluded.

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Education

NAPPS Unhappy About Improvised Religious School Buildings

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The Nationwide Practice of Private Schools sharing facilities with places of worship has drawn criticism from the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).

The National President of NAPPS, Mr. Yomi Odubela, addressed concerns about this matter at a press conference introducing the recently approved 2023 NAPPS Constitution and the newly appointed NAPPS Nigeria Board of Trustees.

He emphasized the necessity for private schools to function in autonomous, purpose-built facilities that satisfy the highest educational standards and outlined the association’s expectations for the new Board of Trustees.

Otubela said, “We must uphold minimum standards for operating private schools in Nigeria. Some unacceptable practices include the improper arrangement of private schools sharing spaces with religious buildings, a lack of qualified teachers, and a general disregard for educational integrity. As a governing body, we expect the Board of Trustees to lead by example, setting a standard of excellence and professionalism. Mediocrity should not have a place in our educational system.”

He went on to say that NAPPS would keep pushing for the growth of private education, guaranteeing standards of quality, encouraging improved working conditions for private school owners, and working with government organizations to enhance national educational policies.

“NAPPS Nigeria remains fully committed to foster progress in educational development and quality pedagogy, ensuring that our association continues to be a pillar of excellence and positive transformation in the educational landscape of Nigeria.”

He disclosed that the 2023 NAPPS Constitution and the recently appointed Board of Trustees had both been formally approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission, marking the start of a new leadership team aimed at raising educational standards and promoting harmony within Nigeria’s private education industry.

After a careful examination of the governance procedure, NAPPS Nigeria has successfully had the Corporate Affairs Commission recognize and approve its new Board of Trustees. This change follows worries about past BOT appointments that did not follow the association’s constitutionally required processes.

During NAPPS Nigeria’s National Delegates Congress on February 15, 2024, the CAC formally approved the new leadership structure and de-recognized former BOT members as part of the reforms.

The congress, which comprised state chapters and officials from the National Executive Council, played a crucial role in ensuring the new board’s legitimacy. Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kundak, Chairman of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North East), and Dr. (Mrs.) Edna Opara, Secretary of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South South), are the recently approved members of the NAPPS Nigeria Board of Trustees.

Dr. Alhaji Rabiu Abdulkadir is the trustee of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North West); Pst. (Mrs.) Tabitha Salaudeen is the trustee of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North Central); Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Odubo is the trustee of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South South); Mr. Udochukwu Jen is the assistant secretary of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South East);

Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT, Alhaji Ibrahim Yelwa; Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South East), Arch. Samuel Onweluzo;    Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North East), Alhaji Ali Misau; Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North Central) Comr. Idakpo Jude; Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South West), Safiriyu Ganiyu Idowu; Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South West), Ogunyeye Obafemi Thaddeus;

NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North West), Alhaji Lawal Sayyadi – Trustee.

Otubela said, “This new leadership structure, which is in full compliance with NAPPS Nigeria’s constitution, marks a turning point for the association and is set to enhance advocacy efforts for private schools nationwide.

“As part of its ongoing commitment to improving educational standards, NAPPS Nigeria will host the NAPPS International Conference and Exhibition (NICE 2024) from November 20-21, 2024 in Calabar, Cross River State. The theme for this year’s conference is “Illuminate, Innovate, Elevate: Breaking Barriers in the Education Sector for National Development.”

He stated that on November 21, 2024, NAPPS Nigeria would have its National Delegates Conference at the International Conference Centre in Calabar in addition to the International Conference.

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