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University education in Nigeria By It is an understatement to say that university education in Nigeria today is in shambles. Who or what is responsible for this and what should be done are what have been engaging the minds of many concerned Nigerians including this writer who had spent over 30 years in the university system both as a teacher and an administrator. Nigeria changed from the elite to mass higher education in mid 70s without the adequate and necessary preparation and planning for this necessary change. From the mid 70s to date, the number of universities in the country has been rising just as the students’ population in the universities has also been growing beyond the capacity each university was originally intended to take. Therefore, the facilities in each university are over stretched and adequate funds are not being provided for the running of the universities. What has made matters worse is the abolition of tuition fees in the Federal Universities and the ridiculous amount of N90 per session being charged per student for accommodation in the Federal Universities since 1978. The situation identified in the foregoing clearly shows that the Federal Government is not serious with the issue of university education in Nigeria. Or how else can one describe the attitude of government which is very much aware of the situation and has done nothing to avert the rapidly declining standard of education in the country. In May 2000, the Federal Government announced a proposed policy on autonomy for universities which was presented to a stakeholders’ forum in July 2000. Uptill the time of writing this piece, the policy is yet to be implemented. Does this show seriousness on the part of government? It is my view that the proposed Federal Government policy on autonomy for universities is a realistic one which could lead to a meaningful and efficient university administration and high academic standards. For instance, under administrative autonomy of the policy, the Governing Council of each university will be responsible for the appointment of all staff including the Vice-Chancellor and determine the remuneration package and conditions of service of all categories of staff after due negotiation with the unions. Under this arrangement, one expects that National Staff Unions must die. Salaries and conditions of service of staff must vary from one university to the other; the entire university system will no longer be held to ransom by an almighty staff union always hanging on to "Agreements of imperfect obligations". The strong unionisation of the university system in Nigeria has become absurd! The unions, very often, behave as a union of coal miners demonstrating gross insensitivity to the plight of innocent children put under their care. The Federal Government however encourages the long strikes by paying workers for work not done. It is idle talk to say that university teachers do other things like research etc. when they refuse to teach. Since these are not research universities, their primary duty is teaching and once they neglect this they should forfeit their pay. It is even worse for the non-teachers. What do they do when they withdraw their services to deserve being paid? Strikes should be the last option in the universities and the hospitals in Nigeria; and when a strike must be embarked upon, it should never last longer than seven days. Government should devise means of achieving this. Nigerians should cooperate with the government in her efforts in this direction and stop blaming the government on every ill in the country. It is the responsibility of all. Most Nigerians have lost their sense of reasoning and of judgement! In those good old days there were medical professors: the Akinkugbes, the Osuntokuns, the Salakos who believed that teachers and doctors should never go on strike. Do we still have such men and women of honour? Let the Federal Government call a halt to this drift today. Enough is enough! Chief Arowolo was a one time Registrar, at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
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