Education
ASUU: Elements in the Government Are Prepared to Privatize Public Universities
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday, raised the alarm that “undertakers of privatization” who are within the Federal Government, are positioning themselves to take over public universities from the reach of the children of the masses.
The Ibadan Zone of the union in a release by the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Oyebamiji Oyegoke, issued in Ibadan, said unless Nigerians join ASUU to struggle and deliver public funded universities to the children of the masses, agents of privatization of public universities have concluded plans to deny the children of the common man access to qualitative education and make them serve their children learning in foreign universities.
He said, “What is unveiling before us is deceit, and readiness to bring university education to its kneel after which the undertakers of privatization will take over; no wonder, the increasing number of private universities and polytechnics against the depreciating and fastly decaying number of same in public institutions.”
According to the Ibadan Zone of ASUU, the demands of the union are not self-serving but altruistic, stating “as a body of intellectuals, our Union demands for repositioning of our universities for greater efficiency in national development and technological advancement; massive and sustained funding for our universities; a reversal of apparent decay in the university system; and enhanced and competitive remuneration for overworked academic staff in Nigerian Universities. Nigerians should join ASUU to ask the Federal Government of Nigeria to tow the path of honour by respecting the agreement it freely entered with our Union”
Oyegoke maintained that President Muhammadu Buhari, is leaving a legacy of tragic epigram on education in Nigeria, noting that it is a sad commentary that a government which was brought into power by a popular mandate of the teaming Nigerian masses has turned full cycle against a key agent of development like the education sector.
According to him, “We are pained as a Union to observe this government, which is on its way out, keeping a date with history as it struggles to scribble a tragic epigram on our education sector. What a legacy to leave.”
While insisting that the Ibadan zone joined the leadership of the union to reject what he called disrespectful and demeaning award of money and jettisoning collective bargaining in arriving at what the Federal Government presented to the Union, he maintained that the Union of intellectual will not be caged.
“The main issue, involved in the current ASUU travails is about living up to responsibility or the abdication of it. If government is not a continuum, ASUU as a body of intellectuals would not have been insisting on re-negotiating and implementing an agreement reached and signed with it since 2009 by Federal Government of Nigeria. An agreement reached with FGN whose re-negotiation ought to have commenced in 2012, did not take off until 2017 under Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) who was challenged majorly by ASUU for recommending that students in Nigerian Universities should pay up to a million Naira per session as tuition fee.
“The recommendations of Munzali Jubril Committee’s of 2020 were equally rejected by FGN. This Committee was replaced lately by Nimi Briggs’s Committee in March, 2022. For crying out loud, FGN has its mind made up ab initio. All ASUU’s patriotic yearnings to repositioning public universities, whether Federal or States to serve as agents of developmental transformation do not cut any ice with FGN. A fundamental question to ask is: were Emeritus Professors Munzali Jibril and Nimi Brigg’s Committees not set up by FGN ?. Let us take the first committee. Prof. Munzali’s Committee was inaugurated in December, 2020 by Mallam Adamu Adamu on behalf of FGN who clearly declared during the Committee’s inauguration this statement, “Government is determined to, within available resources, provide the requisite environment, infrastructure as well as improve the conditions of service for all categories of staff in Nigerian universities.”
“This statement is an admission of some of the objectives which ASUU Re-negotiated Agreement set out to achieve. Such referencing is clearly an affirmation of ASUU’s principled position in reforming the Nigerian University system. It is important to note that a committee that was composed of eminent Pro-Chancellors of State and Federal Universities; Advisers like Executive Secretaries of NUC, TETfund and Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; and observers, coming from representatives of Federal Ministries like Labour and Productivity, Finance and Budget Planing, Justice, Salaries, Income and Wages, etc; any government which discountenance the findings of such robust assemblage will at best be described as deceptive and unpatriotic.
“To set up another committee, within a space of a little above two years headed by another Emeritus Professor, Nimi Briggs, is not only duplicitous, but a portrayal of lack of seriousness which typifies all level of governance in Nigeria. That, the recommendations of Nimi Briggs’s Committee were set aside could only mean a deterministic mind of abuse of power and lack of concern for the future of University System in Nigeria. If all that ASUU got for stagnating on same salary for more that 13 years was mere 35% (N60,000) salary increase for its Professors and another 23.5% (N30,000) for Senior Lecturers and below, the question arises of what the equivalent workers in public service earn as compared to the miserly offer by the government.”
Education
OISD Empowers Teachers with Digital Literacy and AI Skills to Revolutionize Education in Nigeria
The Organization for Innovation and Sustainable Development (OISD) has taken a significant step toward transforming education in Nigeria by organizing a one-day special training on digital literacy for secondary school teachers in Abuja.
The event, held at the OISD Training Centre in Abuja, was designed to equip educators with essential digital skills and increase awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance their teaching impact.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Jamilu Yusuf Dan-Ummah, the Executive Director of OISD, introduced the theme of the program: “Empowering Educators: Advancing Digital Literacy and AI Awareness for Secondary School Impact.” He emphasized the critical role teachers play in shaping the future of education and the need to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Mr. Dan-Ummah highlighted that the objective of the training was to bridge the digital gap in classrooms by empowering teachers with the knowledge and tools to integrate digital literacy and AI-driven solutions into their teaching methods.
According to him, educators must stay ahead of technological advancements to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
“This training is a response to the growing demand for educators who can leverage digital tools and AI to deliver effective learning experiences. Our goal is to ensure that teachers are not just aware of these technologies but are also capable of applying them to improve student outcomes,” Mr. Dan-Ummah stated.
The program brought together secondary school teachers from various schools across Abuja, providing them with hands-on training on essential digital tools, interactive learning platforms, and AI concepts.
Facilitators at the event shared insights on how to use technology to make lessons more engaging, foster critical thinking, and prepare students for a technology-driven world.
The event concluded with participants expressing their appreciation for the training and the actionable insights they gained. Some of the teachers highlighted the importance of continuous capacity-building programs to keep up with emerging educational trends.
Education
Army chief charges junior officers to be enterprising and resourceful
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has charged students of the Junior Course 98 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to be enterprising, diligent and resourceful.
Oluyede gave the charge while addressing the students at their regimental dinner night on Wednesday in Jaji, Kaduna State.
According to him, possessing the attributes will enable them build successfully on their career and personal lives.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dinner night is one of the major events lined up for the graduation of the students on Friday.
Oluyede said the objective of the college was to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers to prepare them for staff and command appointments.
He said the officers in the last 23 weeks had learnt some vital concepts like counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, estimate process and manoeuvring approach to warfare and peace support operations.
“It is also gratifying that you learnt the rudiments of time management, perseverance, determination, team spirit, staff work, and self-confidence and most importantly, discipline while on this course.
“Your leadership, dedication and ability to inspire and guide your teams are essential to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and excellence.
”As junior leaders, you must be able to inspire confidence in subordinates and not lead through intimidation or be overtly coercive.
“Your impact significantly contributes to the overall plan and objectives at the operational and strategic levels, “he said.
The army chief congratulated the students on the successful completion of their course
NAN reports that prizes were given to students who distinguished themselves
Education
Wike backs amendment of TET Fund Act to accommodate Nigerian Law School
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has backed ongoing calls for the amendment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET Fund) to accommodate the Nigerian Law School in its interventions.
Wike announced the support at the inauguration of the construction of 10-unit housing staff quarters for the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja, on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister also handed over seven operation vehicles to the school to improve its operation.
The minister said that the amendment of the TET Fund Act to accommodate the Nigerian Law School was long overdue, considering its contribution to the development of the legal profession.
“This is a professional training school. So, we will give all the necessary support that the Fund be amended for the law school to benefit from its special intervention funds.
“If that happens, I am sure the difference will be clear. The school will have the money it requires to provide critical infrastructure,” he said.
Wile also called for increased budgetary provisions for the Nigerian Law School to enable the school to carry out infrastructural development for quality service delivery.
He explained that the provision of staff quarters and operational vehicles to the law school in Bwari was directed by President Bola Tinubu.
He added that the institution also belongs to the Federal Government, and as such, there was nothing wrong in providing the needed infrastructure to uplift the school.
The minister also promised to build 200-bed male and female hostels for the Nigerian Laws School, Bwari.
According to him, the current hostels are not fit for the training of professional lawyers for the Nigerian legal profession
He said that the funds for the construction of the hostels would be captured in the FCTA’s 2025 budget.
He called on those who might not be happy with the support being given to the judiciary and legal education to wait for their turn.
He said: “If anybody is angry with us, let him wait for his turn. When you become the Minister of FCT, do it for your own profession.
“I am not going to be intimidated by anybody.
“Now that we are in this position, we must contribute to our constituency so that tomorrow, we will be able to say, while we were there, this was our own contribution as far as our constituency, the legal profession is concerned.”
He thanked Tinubu for giving him all the support he needs to succeed as the minister of the FCT.
Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, equally frowned at the non-inclusion of the Nigerian Law School as a benefiting institution.
“If you look at the laws setting up TET Fund, the Nigerian Law School is not included, and I think the time has come to amend the Act to include the Nigerian Law School.
“This will enable the school benefit for the TET Fund intervention funds,” he said.
Fagbemi thanked Wike, whom he described as “Mr Project” for all the support to the judiciary and the legal profession.
“Whether or not you like him, you cannot dispute the fact that he is a performer, and one person you will always know where he stands, no matter what, even if you don’t agree with him.
“Another thing is, he does not embark on any project he has no money to complete,” he said.
He appealed to other public office holders to extend a similar gesture to the Nigerian Law School to enable the school to maintain high standards in the training of legal professionals.
On his part, the Director-General, Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isah Chiroma, recalled that he had appealed to Wike for infrastructural support when he assumed office in August 2023.
“This project, is therefore, a promise made and a promise kept. The housing and operational vehicles will go a long way in assisting the school to achieve its mandate,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, said that staff quarters would consist of a fully furnished four-bedroom bungalow, and expected to be completed in nine months.
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