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.
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has expanded its international footprint by accrediting more schools in Equatorial Guinea to conduct its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
According to a statement released in Minna on Wednesday by NECO’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mallam Azeez Sani, the newly accredited schools are located in Bata, the largest city in Equatorial Guinea. This expansion adds to the existing NECO-accredited schools in the country.
The accreditation process involved a comprehensive assessment by NECO’s team, which evaluated the schools’ classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, sports facilities, continuous assessment systems, teacher adequacy, and security standards.
Following a thorough review, the schools were granted full accreditation to conduct both SSCE and BECE examinations.
Mallam Azeez Sani emphasized that this development underscores NECO’s commitment to providing quality education and standardized assessments beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“With its expanding global presence, NECO is positioning itself as a leading examination body in Africa, creating opportunities for Nigerian students and other foreign nationals to benefit from its expertise and contribute to educational advancement across the continent,” he stated.
NECO examinations are currently written in Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, further cementing its role as a key player in Africa’s educational landscape.
***Insists, no Students, No Meeting
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a final ultimatum to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), demanding immediate student representation on its board.
The association has vowed to shut down the upcoming board meeting if its demand is ignored.
In a letter dated February 13, 2025, addressed to NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, and Board Chairman, Jim Ovia, NANS President Lucky Emonefe condemned the exclusion of students as “completely unacceptable.”
Emonefe indicated that excluding students from the NELFUND Board is tantamount to shaving a man’s head in his absence emphasizing that decisions about student loans should not be made without their input.
Representing over 50 million students nationwide, NANS insisted that students, as the primary beneficiaries of the fund, must have a seat at the table.
The letter warned that failure to comply would result in a mass mobilization to prevent the board meeting from taking place.
“This is not an appeal; it is a final warning. Nigerian students refuse to be spectators in decisions that shape their future. No student, no meeting!” the letter concluded.
With tensions rising, all eyes are now on NELFUND’s leadership to see whether they will yield to NANS’ demands or risk a major student uprising.
By James Ojochegbe
As September approaches, excitement continues to build around Rugby School Nigeria, a prestigious institution set to redefine secondary education in West Africa.
With its campus rising in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, and preparations in full swing, the school’s leadership remains committed to delivering an elite academic experience rooted in the traditions of its UK counterpart.
International Development Director of Rugby School Global,
Ian McIntyre, recently toured the campus and expressed confidence in meeting the projected launch date.
“The facilities here will reflect the highest standards of excellence and innovation,” he remarked, underscoring the institution’s goal of blending academic rigor with holistic student development.
While the school’s full senior program will open in 2026, its debut this year will focus on an advanced Sixth Form curriculum designed to propel students into the world’s top universities.
The program, led by expert instructors, covers a diverse range of subjects, from Mathematics and Sciences to Business Studies and the Arts.
James Whitehead, Director of Education at Rugby School Global, highlighted the school’s unique approach: “At Rugby School Nigeria, we embrace the ‘Whole Person, Whole Point’ philosophy, ensuring students not only achieve academic excellence but also develop key life skills.”
Beyond academics, Rugby School Nigeria aims to cultivate leadership, creativity, and resilience—qualities that will prepare students for success in an evolving global landscape. As enrollment begins, families across the region are eager to secure a place in what promises to be a transformative educational institution.
In a deal sealed by
Nick Bacon Chairman, Governing Body of Rugby School and Mr Ronald Chagoury, Chairman of Eko Atlantic, Rugby School Nigeria will initially offer a Sixth Form programme for day students aged 16 and above, emphasizing
academic excellence and a diverse range of extra-curricular activities, preparing students for entry to the world’s
leading universities.
With the school set to welcome its first A Level students this September, and the full senior school opening in September 2026, excitement has continued to build around this transformative educational institution for aspiring students from across West Africa.
Expressing his excitement at the progress made so far,
Ian McIntyre, said,
“It is truly inspiring to see the remarkable progress being made on the world-class campus of Rugby School Nigeria. The facilities here will reflect the highest standards of excellence and innovation, ensuring that students will experience an education that is both academically rigorous and holistically enriching.
“With the launch of our full A-level programme this September and the full opening of the senior school in 2026, we are excited to bring the proud heritage and values of Rugby School to Nigeria. This campus will undoubtedly become a beacon of learning in West Africa.”
According to the statement from Rugby School Global, the A-Level students will benefit from expert instruction by specialist teachers in a broad range of subjects, including: English Literature, Mathematics & Further Mathematics; Biology, Chemistry, Physics; History, Geography, French; Art, Economics, Business Studies; Physical Education, and Computer Studies.
James Whitehead, Director of Education at Rugby School Global, equally highlighted the school’s distinctive philosophy
“At Rugby School Nigeria, we embrace the ‘Rugby Way’ teaching & learning philosophy and the ‘Whole Person, Whole Point’ approach—ensuring that students not only excel academically but also grow holistically, preparing them for the world’s top universities and life beyond.”
The first phase of the school campus will include a reception and welcome area, numerous classrooms, sports and social spaces and a sixth form centre.
The statement further urged ”
prospective families to register their interest and “secure a place for their child at this groundbreaking educational institution. ”
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