Education

ASUU to Tinubu: Vibrant Nigerians running away from lecturing

Published

4 months ago

January 2, 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

ASUU to Tinubu: Vibrant Nigerians running away from lecturing

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised the alarm that poor welfare conditions of public universities’ lecturers is discouraging qualified hands from taking up jobs in the university system.

Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, in a new year message noted that the situation also affects primary and secondary schools where teachers are not well-paid, leading to the reluctance of qualified teachers to take up employment in public primary and secondary schools, paving way for untrained and unqualified teachers hold sway. The result is the proliferation of private schools, most of which are out of the reach of the poor due to the exorbitant fees they charge.

According to Professor Akinwole, the university system witnessed stagnation in 2024 stating that but for the sacrifices of the lecturers, the university system would have been thrown into another industrial crisis because of the lacklustre attitude of the Federal Government to the plights of lecturers.

He noted that Nigeria’s education is likely to remain the same because it has been allocated about 7 percent (N3.52 trillion) in the 2025 budget (47.90 trillion) “which falls far below the benchmark of 15-20 percent educational budget for underdeveloped countries like Nigeria, specified by both UNESCO and United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), which has been advocated by our Union.”

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While commending the Federal Government for setting up a committee to renegotiate the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, Akinwole warned against delayed tactics as characterised in previous administrations.

“To be sure, since 2017, various committees have been put in place by the government to renegotiate the agreement with ASUU. For instance, the Babalakin-led Joint Renegotiation Committee was set up, followed by Emeritus Professor Munzali Jubril-led Committee, and followed by the late Prof. Nimi Briggs-led Committee, which yielded a draft agreement between the committee and ASUU in 2021. Unfortunately, the Buhari administration refused to sign the Agreement reached by a Committee set up by it. It is, therefore, our opinion that instead of a fresh renegotiation of the Agreement, the Tinubu-led administration should rather set in motion a process that will lead to the review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated draft agreement as a mark of goodwill and assured hope for Nigeria’s public universities.”

The ASUU boss also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to eliminate TETFund under the tax administration bill stating that this would kill the little infrastructural funding which TETFund has been executing.

“This misbegotten policy will have huge and adverse implications for the university system in Nigeria. This is, no doubt, an attempt to destroy the major source of infrastructural funding for already struggling public tertiary institutions.. It is also an attempt to commodify university education in Nigeria.

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“A part of the tax administration bill proposes eliminating the education tax, to be replaced by a development levy. This would effectively disrupt the revenue stream of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), an agency set up as a product of the ingenuity and struggles of ASUU that has been the major source of funding for infrastructure development in many public tertiary institutions over the last decade. Since its establishment in 2011, TETFund has monitored the disbursement of education tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. However, with this new bill, only 50 percent of the monies accruing to the levy would go to TETFund in 2025 and 2026. TETFund’s share will be upped to 66 percent in 2027, 2028, and 2029. Then, the agency would cease to get any revenue from 2030. From 2030, the development levy will be solely meant to fund the federal government’s student loan scheme. What this means is that the agency that funds infrastructural development in the Nigerian tertiary institutions is under the threat of extinction by 2030.

“It is a public hazard to conscript academics into an endless struggle for survival. There is a low level of motivation and an increasing rate of flight from the present condition at the slightest opportunity.”

Setting agenda for 2025 Professor Akinwole asked President Tinubu to pay attention to the “welfare of workers in the education sector and Nigerian workers is paramount, considering the state of the national economy and high cost of living, which has deepened the erosion of the conditions of service of our members”

The ASUU boss stated that it is expected that “the withheld three-and-a-half-month salaries and third party deductions owed our members should be paid forthwith. We also expect that the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) should be released, just as we expect that the funding for the revitalisation of the universities should be released in accordance with the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2012, 2013, and the MoA of 2017”

“In the absence of visible and concrete efforts at addressing the pending issues and meeting our expectations, there is likely to be a long-drawn confrontation between our Union and the Federal Government, which will probably lead to another round of untold avoidable crisis in the university system in Nigeria.”

ASUU to Tinubu: Vibrant Nigerians running away from lecturing

Related Topics:ASUU Featured lecturing Nigerians Tinubu

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Education

WAEC, NECO to adopt CBT for exams next year

Published

1 hour ago

April 28, 2025

Trends Admin

WAEC, NECO to adopt CBT for exams next year

The Federal Government has directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to adopt full Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all their examinations by 2026.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the monitoring of the ongoing exams alongside JAMB officials, in Bwari on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 2 million candidates registered for the ongoing examination in more than 800 centres across the country.

Education

NANS demands immediate review of early morning UTME schedule

Published

2 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Trends Admin

NANS demands immediate review of early morning UTME schedule

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has strongly condemned the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, for scheduling the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, at times as early as 6.30 a.m.

The student body, represented by Comrade Olushola Oladoja, the national president, and Comrade Samson Ajasa Adeyemi, the national public relations officer, issued a statement on Sunday endorsing the decision, saying it is dangerous and inconsiderate given the country’s current security issues.

“It is deeply troubling that students are expected to commute to examination centres in the early hours of the morning, often navigating unsafe routes and facing transportation difficulties.

“Reports indicate that some candidates have had to travel long distances, exposing them to unnecessary risks.

“The current security climate in Nigeria demands that authorities prioritise the safety and well-being of students rather than subjecting them to undue hardship.

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“NANS calls on JAMB to immediately review and adjust the examination schedule to ensure that no student is required to sit for an exam before 9 a.m.

“We urge the Honourable Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, to intervene and ensure that students are not placed in harm’s way due to poor planning.

“We hereby issue a 72-hour ultimatum to JAMB to revise the UTME schedule and adopt a more student-friendly approach. Failure to comply will leave NANS with no choice but to mobilise students nationwide for peaceful protests to demand immediate action.

“The welfare and security of Nigerian students must never be compromised.

“NANS remains committed to advocating for policies that protect students and ensure their academic pursuits are not hindered by avoidable challenges.”

NANS demands immediate review of early morning UTME schedule

Education

JAMB arrests 40 impersonators during UTME

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2025

Trends Admin

JAMB arrests 40 impersonators during UTME

Over 40 persons have been arrested and are facing prosecution for impersonating candidates during the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed.

This comes as many parents and guardians express concern that the 6.30 a.m. resumption time for the exam was too early for candidates, adding that many may have to drive several miles to their examination sites.

The 2025 UTME, which began on Thursday, April 24, will run until Monday, May 5.

According to JAMB, over 2,030,627 students are taking this year’s exam at authorised computer-based test centres across the nation.

A mother of a candidate who claimed to live in Awoyaya, Lekki, Lagos, but whose 14-year-old son was assigned to a centre in Ikorodu, stated that the young guy may miss the exam due to time constraints.

“The examination slip states that candidates are expected at the centre by 6.30am. So, that means my son must be on the road by 4 am. I don’t drive. We don’t have a car. He would have to take a bus. Even if I decide to go with him, how are we supposed to get a bus at that time, and how are we supposed to get to Ikorodu before 6.30am?

“This is wickedness. JAMB should look into this and move the exam forward. 6.30am for an examination is too early.”

Olaoluwa Yinka, a guardian, lamenting on X, wrote, “My younger sister has just travelled today for her UTME tomorrow morning. From Abeokuta, she was sent to Ijebu Igbo by 6.30am. This is very absurd.

“When I wrote JAMB, I did so around 9 am and the heavens did not fall. This CBT is the problem. Students get to the centre, and sometimes the systems don’t work as well.”

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Social media activist, Rinu Oduala, in a statement on X, wrote, “Again, why are you scheduling exams for 6.30am, @JAMBHQ? And expect teenagers to find their ways 50km plus away from home? How can educated people make nonsensical policies for citizens and kids in this country? Does it make any sense?”

A mother, Nnem Chacha-Gold, told this reporter on Saturday that her only daughter had to leave the house at 4.30 a.m. to travel to her exam venue by 6.30 a.m.

“I had to follow my daughter to her centre in Ikorodu from Ejigbo. When I got there, they said we (parents) were not welcome at the centre. I even learnt that candidates slept outside their centres to meet up. I can’t imagine my own child sleeping on the street overnight just to meet up. Goodness!”

Meanwhile, Esther Oladele, a young female candidate aged 16, was claimed to have lost her way to her centre.

Richard, claiming to be her brother, stated that she travelled from Ajah to Epe on Thursday, April 24, but mistakenly boarded the wrong bus.

The post read, “It’s been almost 24 hours since we haven’t heard from my sister. She was going to Epe from Ajah around 1 pm yesterday (Thursday) for her UTME. The last message she sent to us reads thus: ‘I’m scared. I think I entered the wrong car, and my eyes are itchy. E be like say I want to sleep.”

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This spurred numerous X users to initiate a search online, notifying the authorities to look for the young lady.

After nearly 48 hours, Richard returned to X to confirm that Esther had been discovered in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Esther’s picture leaked online, showing her in garish apparel and with messy hair.

The flier read, “We are overjoyed to share that Esther is home safe and sound! Words cannot express our gratitude to everyone who played a part in bringing her back. Your reposts, prayers, and unwavering support gave us strength and hope throughout this difficult time. We are eternally grateful for the kindness and compassion of our community.”

Despite the board’s efforts to sanitise the examination process, Benjamin expressed concern about impersonation.

He noted that while other countries have successfully conducted remote exams, Nigeria’s current context makes such an innovation impractical.

“If Nigerians want comfort, let us behave very well. If we are transparent, we can do these CBT exams at home and submit them online. We will just send questions to them, and they will answer and send them back to us. Then, we will grade and send them back the results,” Benjamin said.

“But, you know what will happen if we try to do that. Several countries are doing their central examinations from home. But, can we do that in Nigeria,” he added.