By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
Immediate.past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara has counseled the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to find other means of resolving disputes rather than strikes.
“Our public universities are seriously affected by incessant strikes and threats of it. Are there no other ways of resolving disputes between the workers and the Government? he asked.
Dogara was speaking at the 11th convocation and 14th anniversary of Achievers University, Owo in Ondo state weekend, where he noted that funding challenges of the public universities need to be seriously addressed by the federal government.
The former speaker, who is the chancellor of the Achievers University, however advised the universities staff union to think out of the box in channeling their grievances in the interest of the students and the quality of degrees they earn.
He also expressed worrisome over the spate of approvals and licensing of private universities in the country, stressing the need for the National Universities Commission (NUC) to have a relax in allowing the very large number of private universities already licensed to mature.
“I am reliably informed that there are 202 Universities in Nigeria, out of which the Federal government owns 49; the 36 State governments own 54, while the rest of 99 universities, including Achievers University, are promoted by private initiatives”.
Former Speaker Dogara observed that many of the newly established private universities are still struggling to find their feet because, as he puts it, ‘there were many of the applicants who cannot afford the fees charged by private universities’.
He further explained that many prospective university students would rather wait for a few years to benefit from public university rather than exploit the vast opportunity available in private universities.
Hon. Yakubu Dogara however acknowledged the great jobs the private universities are doing for those who can afford it, and for assisting the government in stemming the tide of educational tourism.
He stated that many Nigerian youths were found in very great numbers in many universities across the globe, particularly in West African countries, saying however that the story has changed for good with the advent of private universities in Nigeria.
