Education
ASUU strike: FG is deliberately undermining education, says Prof Fawehinmi
Immediate past deputy Vice chancellor (Academic) University of Portharcourt Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi has described the logjam in the Ivory towers over industrial action by lecturers as a deliberate effort by Government to undermined education.
Speaking in Abuja recently on the incessant strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Fawehinmi said the strike is a necessity
The Professor of Clinical Anatomy and Medical Anthropology said,
“I think the ASUU agitation is called for even though it is one strike too many but it is not the fault of ASUU. “You will notice that ASUU has been consistently asking for the same thing, better funding for the university, some form of university autonomy from the Government and then this IPPIS platform that was recently introduced has been an issue.
“This is because it does not serve the purpose of the univwrsity. All over the world University staff are entitled to what we call sabbatical leave and are entitled to be visiting other institutions and when you are on Sabbatical it is expected that the new institution will enroll you on their payroll even as a visiting lecturer.
“The IPPIS did not make any provision for remuneration of lecturers on leave and that is very clear to everybody.
“Nobody is going to go on sabbatical and go there to do it pro-bono, you go there you are expected to get paid so that you can sustain your life wherever you are doing it.
He said the IPPIS platform does not make provisions for sabbatical leave, there is no express provision and that is a very big deficiency.
“So the ASUU struggle is genuine and Germain.”
While throwing more lights on the issue he said, There was this agreement ASUU signed with the Federal Government way back in 2009 and the Federal Government kept postponing the evil day in the sense that it has not been able to implement that agreement wholeheartedly.
“Therefore ASUU would be forced to go into strike and would be called back, and there would be a memorandum of action and the Federal Government would not keep to its own side.”
He lamented that there is a very huge deficit in budget for education in Nigeria especially tertiary education.
“For a country like Nigeria that has a very huge chunk of it’s population as youth the UNESCO minimum of 18% should be adhered to but if you look at the Nigerian budget the education sector don’t even get up to 7%.
“We think that is a very huge deficit and it is affecting tertiary education totally because tirtiaty education, university education in particular is a universal thing and therefore the benchmark standard must be maintained, it is supposed to be all over the world.
“The number of lecturers also has not been enough and that has been worsened by the ongoing brain drain and that is where the issue of earned Academic allowances comes in.”
He said, some lecturers are made to work beyond what their schedule is supposed to be.
“They are made to be in several committee jobs and so on. Because of this, there is this deficit in payment and if you look at the lecturers take home, the take home of a professor, you will know that it is not a takehome pay, it is not a living wage.
He therefore implored the government should look into that.
“The earned academic allowances is not being paid as at when due and they were trying to mainstream it, so that we don’t come every year to keep talking about the same thing.
He observed that the Government on its side , particularly the ministries concerned ; education, finance and Labour have not really done what they are supposed to do in mainstreaming this Earned Academic Allowances, hence there is huge backlog to be paid.
These he said are the issues coming on and on. In the area of funding for the universities, he said, “Funding of the university, of course you know that the population of Students has overwhelmed the infrastructural capacity and if you go to the students hostels, classrooms, you will see those deficits.
“Therefore the Government is supposed to be proactive to make sure that they expand their infrastructure to match with the students population and that is part of the reason for the recurrent strike.”
He expressed sympathy with the Nigerian students saying that irrespective of the deficit in infrastructure and facilities to train them, their program has been serialy disrupted and it has reached a situation where it has become confusing not only for the students but also for the academic staff, the lecturers.
“When you start a session, after the COVID-19 technically they lost a session and came back and trying to find their feet and create a part for their academic existence, and all of a sudden it is truncated again, they go back home, maybe what they have studied they have already started forgetting and by the time they come back to get themselves attuned again there is another strike.
“So the whole process the student might become confused and tomorrow we argue that the kind of products from Nigerian universities does not suit the labour market.
“You know, this sort of disruptions are not good for tertiary educational all. Even the lecturers themselves, we as professors have paid a lot of our dues to the system.
“We can imagine how confusing it is, you start a course, halfway to it there is a 6months strike and then after the strike you come back, you start to think of where to start from because the students must have forgotten the trend and this reoccurring disruptions, the Government should be sensitive to the plight of the students and their parents.
Education
UK Boarding Schools Showcase Top Academic Opportunities for Nigerian Students in Abuja, Lagos
Award-winning schools from the United Kingdom are set to host the highly anticipated UK Boarding Schools Week in Abuja and Lagos this January, offering Nigerian families insights into world-class educational opportunities abroad.
The exhibition, organized by Mark Brooks Education in collaboration with the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, will take place at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, and The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, from Thursday, January 16 to Sunday, January 19, 2025.
Marking 17 years of fostering educational connections between the UK and Nigeria, the event will showcase top-tier boarding schools renowned for academic excellence, pastoral care, and inclusive environments for Nigerian students.
Participating institutions include Aldro Preparatory School, Bromsgrove School, Cardiff Sixth Form College, Concord College, Glenalmond College, Lancing College, Malvern St James Girls’ School, and Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate. Others are St Peter’s School, York, The King’s School, Canterbury, and Wellington School.
Head of Concord College, Dr. Michael Truss, commended Nigerian students for their outstanding performance, saying, “Nigerian students thrive here, consistently achieving top A-level grades and securing admissions to prestigious universities.”
Diana Cree of Lancing College praised Nigerian students for their determination and leadership qualities, adding, “Three Nigerian upper-sixth students have excelled in academics, sports, and debating, earning leadership roles.”
Henrietta Lightwood from Cardiff Sixth Form College highlighted the impressive academic progression of Nigerian students, citing examples of admissions to MIT and Cambridge University.
Mark Brooks, Founder of Mark Brooks Education, emphasized the exhibition’s role in helping parents secure outstanding education for their children.
“These events allow families to explore how UK schools can support academic and personal growth. Many schools now have Nigerian students serving as head boys or girls, reflecting their impact and success,” he said.
The exhibition promises parents and guardians a comprehensive platform to engage directly with school representatives and chart pathways to exceptional educational futures for their children.
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has expanded its international reach by accrediting additional foreign schools in Niger Republic and Equatorial Guinea to conduct its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
These newly accredited schools will join those in Saudi Arabia, which previously secured NECO’s accreditation, to begin writing the examinations starting next year.
NECO’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mallam Azeez Sani, announced this in a statement issued on Saturday in Minna. He said the initiative reflects NECO’s commitment to broadening its horizons and establishing a global presence.
Thorough Accreditation Process
According to Sani, NECO’s Accreditation Team visited the schools to assess their readiness for the examinations.
The evaluation process included inspections of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, and sports facilities.
“After a comprehensive assessment, the schools were granted full accreditation status for both SSCE and BECE,” he said.
This expansion, he added, highlights NECO’s dedication to delivering quality education assessments that transcend Nigeria’s borders, offering opportunities for students to benefit from its expertise and standards.
Strengthening Regional Impact
The council’s growing influence has made it a key player in Africa’s education sector. Currently, NECO examinations are being conducted in several countries, including Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Saudi Arabia.
NECO also disclosed that the ongoing NECO SSCE External Examination is being conducted at the UNHCR School in Diffa, Niger Republic—the first NECO SSCE External Centre outside Nigeria.
The council reiterated its commitment to advancing education on the continent and beyond. “With its expanding global presence, NECO is poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, fostering educational excellence and contributing to the development of the education sector across the region,” the statement read.
This international accreditation further reinforces NECO’s standing as a credible examination body, providing students worldwide with access to reliable and standard assessments.
The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to making Nigeria a beacon of educational excellence, emphasizing the critical role of education in driving national progress.
This pledge was made on Thursday during a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund to discuss two bills: The Federal Polytechnic Onueke, Ezza South, Ebonyi (Establishment) Bill, 2024 and The Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri (Establishment) Bill, 2024
Representing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senator Titus Zam (Benue North West) highlighted the Senate’s dedication to fostering inclusive and sustainable development through education.
“Education remains a cornerstone for national progress,” Senator Zam noted. “Its accessibility to all Nigerians, irrespective of geographical or socio-economic status, is a priority for this Senate.”
He emphasized that the input of stakeholders at the hearing would underscore a shared resolve to strengthen Nigeria’s educational framework, expand opportunities for intellectual growth, and provide technical and vocational training for the nation’s youth.
Akpabio, through Senator Zam, assured Nigerians of the Senate’s dedication to legislative measures that promote equity, national growth, and prosperity.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, explained that the Federal Polytechnic Onueke Bill aims to bolster technical and vocational education, aligning with the government’s efforts to reduce unemployment and enhance socio-economic conditions.
Similarly, Senator Kenneth Eze (Ebonyi Central), sponsor of the Federal Polytechnic Onueke Bill, emphasized that the institution would address pressing challenges in the labor market by focusing on skill-based education, ICT, and applied sciences.
“This initiative represents a paradigm shift for a nation grappling with high unemployment rates. It is a step toward advancing human capital development and securing a brighter future for Nigerian youths, particularly those in Ebonyi State,” Senator Eze said.
The Senate reiterated its commitment to legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening the education sector and creating opportunities for skill acquisition and intellectual development. By supporting these bills, the Senate seeks to position Nigeria as a global leader in education and human capital development.
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