A coalition of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, (NCSCN), Wednesday, lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent actions in the country’s educational system.
The coalition particularly noted that Tinubu’s administration had made remarkable strides in ensuring that the country’s tertiary institution system is rightly coordinated.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Executive Director, NCSCN, Comrade Blessing Akinlosotu, said the president got it right with the appointment of an astute academician and renowned administrator, Professor Tahir Mamman as the minister of Education.
He said the presidential assenting of the Student Loan Bill into Law within a few months in the current administration, goes a long way in underscoring the high priority of his Government.
Akinlosotu lauded the National University Commission for taking prompt action against educational matters that could jeopardize the country’s image before the international community.
“Equally, the removal of Universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which enhances corporate governance of the universities and removes unnecessary bottlenecks in implementations of programmes and projects by the Institutions. This single action also underscores Mr. President’s compliance with the subsisting court order in that regard and respecting the yearnings of university-based unions.
“Furthermore, implementation of the newly redeveloped Core Curriculum Minimum Academics Standards (CCMAS), which offers the Universities the opportunity to develop 30 percent of the contents of its Curriculum while 70 percent is provided by the NUC is a major milestone in the attainment of functional and qualitative education in Nigeria.
“This is expected to impact positively on Nigerian Universities as it would assist in producing highly skilled, fit-for-purpose graduates, in line with the current realities of our country.
“The Federal Government, through the Honourable Minister of Education, has approved the policy framework for Transnational Education, hoped to facilitate collaborations and partnerships between tertiary institutions in Nigeria and other universities globally. The Council is satisfied with the Educational Policy Trust of Mr. President and the choice of Prof. Tahir Mamman as Honourable Minister for Education and Dr. Tanko Sununu as Honourable Minister of State (Education) while urging the Minister and Management of the Ministry to continue in this positive direction.
“We all can also recall the recent exposure of a University in Benin Republic that for years has been awarding highly compromised Degrees to Nigerians within a few months of studies and stern actions taken by the National University Commission (NUC).
“The commitment of NUC under the leadership of the Acting Executive Secretary, Mr Chris Maiyaki has been very impressive, as the Commission has embarked upon ridding Nigeria of substandard academic delivery. On the other hand, the international ratings of our Universities have begun to witness steady ascension due to pragmatic regulations by the leadership and management of the NUC boosting the morale and welfare of the staff of the Commission to achieve more”, he said.
