‘Present Model of Varsity Funding Not Sustainable’

KunibTyessi in Abuja

The Executive Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, Dr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, has said that the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) must realise that the present model for funding universities is longer sustainable.

Oyedele said that both parties must come to the painful realisation that the issue of autonomy should be re-visited so that universities could use their talents to generate more funds.

He stated this after his conferment of a honorary Doctorate Degree in Engineering (D.Eng) by the management of the Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, adding that while the National Universities Commission (NUC) might be seen as granting too many provisional licenses to universities, the country with its population needs more universities.

Reacting to the incessant strikes in universities and how it could be curbed, he said: “I do not think ASUU is using strikes as a tool to blackmail government but it is only reacting to bureaucratic delays that make government not to be responsive to its demands.

“The government and ASUU need to be sincere with each other to end incessant strikes. While government should be open on all the issues, ASUU must show understanding of the financial position of government.

“Both parties must come to the painful realisation that the present model of funding university education is not sustainable and therefore there must be a new thinking outside the box. The issue of autonomy should be re-visited so that universities can use their talents to generate more funds.

“The failure of government to implement agreements freely entered into with ASUU is unacceptable. Government must take steps to implement such agreement and where it cannot, it must quickly seek renegotiation and not wait until ASUU declares another strike before revealing the reasons why it is unable to implement agreed terms.

“While I agree that NUC appears to be granting too many licenses for the establishment of private universities, I am not sure it can be attributed to compromise. Nigeria with its population needs more institutions. However, there must be corresponding number of lecturers and top rate facilities.

“The truth is that Nigerians are good at presenting documents that can persuade any organisation to issue approval. What NUC needs to do is that it must graduate its approval process so that when an applicant meets the conditions in one stage it can proceed to the next stage until final approval is given to commence the programs.”