In the light of recent agitations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said the Federal Government is planning to review the university autonomy laws.
This comes weeks after ASUU called off an eight-month strike, which saw its members demanding improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities, and academic autonomy, among others.
Osinbajo was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha at an event organised by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja to mark the 60th anniversary of the NUC and launch of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academics Standards (CIMAS).
The vice president stated that one of the major issues bedevilling university education in Nigeria was the incessant strike actions by various unions in public universities.
“The most recent strike actions by the university-based unions have necessitated a revisit on the issues and scope of university autonomy by government,” he said.
ASUU members protest at the University of Ibadan on Monday, November 28, 2022
“This will lead to a review of the university autonomy laws to appropriately address funding, including staff remuneration, institutional governance, and administration, as well as issues relating to internally generated revenue.”
According to him, the university system has cumulatively lost over 50 months from 1999 to date as a result of strike actions by ASUU.
“I doubt if there is any country that has lost such amount of time to strikes in its university system.
“From the first strike in 1978 to date, all the issues have remained the same. The agitations have been primarily on funding, university autonomy, and remunerations.
“I need to stress here that government alone cannot fund education in the country. It is therefore imperative that a sustainable model of funding university education must be developed,” he said.
