UniJos Partners With Abti-American University Nigeria
August 18, 2008 by 
Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
A delegation from University of Jos led by Dr. Patricia Lar has visited Abti-America University Nigeria (AAUN) Yola to seek collaboration in the areas of student registration, grading and transcript.
According to Apollos Goyol the university’s Director of Research, “the current registration and grading software in use in AAUN was developed by the students of the institution.
Another member of the team said other Nigeria Universities should visit Abti-America University and learn from her.
Meanwhile in a survey of performance of World Universities conducted by a Chinese University, no Nigerian University made it to the top 500.
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RE: University Degree and HND disparity in Nigeria Civil Service
August 17, 2008 by Guest Writer · Leave a Comment
SOS TO THE PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ALHAJI UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA
This is to appeal to the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to use his good office to implement the much publicized, recently concluded removal of the existing dichotomy in the conditions of appointments/service of the holders of first degree and HND.
It is a thing of regret that two years after the Federal Executive Council’s recommendation of the removal of the undue dichotomy and ceiling on the Salary Grade Level/Rank attainable by Higher National Diploma holders in the Civil Service (ref: Government White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of Emoluments in the Public Sector, Chapter 6 Section 6.2 of December 2006 pages31/32 ), the implementation strategies and time fixed at “medium term” are yet to materialize till the present moment.
In a nation where people’s aspirations are directed at serving the fatherland with love, strength, faith, heart and might; calling for leaders to be guided right, helping our youth to know the truth; growing in love and honesty , living in just and truth and building a nation where peace and justice reign and where democracy equally guarantees continuity in governance. One begins to wonder whether all the afore-mentioned aspirations as expressed in the national anthem are mere rhetoric rather than virtues to live by. In the Civil Service,’ Servicom’ was launched to enhance efficiency and right service to the clients. Is it not high time that the same level of efficiency and right service manifested in the public service and similar national executive bodies?
Your Excellency Sir, many technical cadre civil servants(HND holders) attained salary grade level 14 step11( the former ceiling for that level) over 10years ago, officers(Degree holders) on level 10 at that time are right now on levels 15 or 16. Affected officers are annually being exempted from promotion interviews to level 15 even though the Federal Executive Council has accepted the recommendation of the removal of the ceiling since 2004. Paragraph one of page 5 of the quoted white paper states that, ‘On 11th June, 2006, the President set up the White Paper Drafting Committee on the Consolidation of Emolument in the Public Sector, to among others , work out a White Paper or better still, detailed programme of implementation of the accepted parts of the Report so as to ensure that substantial implementation begins in 2007 along with substantial implementation of Public Service Reforms and Right Sizing’. A lot of public service reforms including disengagement from service(right sizing) had been implemented whereas the issue of the removal of ceiling placed on HND holders also covered by the same White Paper still remains a no-go area. Is this not a perversion of justice and fairplay?
It is disheartening to state that the HND holders are still being statutorily and financially dehumanized as follow:
1. The period of study to attain HND is a minimum of five years ( 2yrs for OND, 1Yr of Post OND-Internship and 2Yrs for HND) while some of the first degree programmes require only 4Yrs for Courses in Education, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences , Arts etc. It is a fact to recognize that most Polytechnic students meet the minimum entry qualifications for University admission before choosing a career in the Polytechnic.
2. The point of entry into the Civil Service is Salary Grade Level 08 for holders of both qualifications. They undeniably assume the same responsibilities
3. It is a national shame to see some Nigeria Universities quoting the HND as one of the acceptable Entry Qualifications (into Part One of First Degree Programmes) while at the same time same or some others accept the same qualification (with PGD) for their masters programmes. (the NUC needs to revisit this issue). This waste of human resources and retardation of the national technological advancement need to be arrested forthwith. Some universities need to be aware that tertary institutions abroad afford HND holders from this country admission for post-graduate studies without any discrimination.
4. Technical Cadre staff on the so-called ceiling are being paid same salary (i.e. GL 14/11) year-in, year-out, without any annual increment even if they have to stagnate there till retirement decades after and nobody seems to care. More embarrassingly these officers are being paid the same Duty Tour Allowance of N8,500 with their sub-ordinate officers on salary grade level 07. Where are the so called incentives to enhance staff efficiency and productivity? What are the prospects for tertiary Vocational Technical Institutions in Nigeria ? Where is Nigeria ’s technological drive heading to? A lot of Physical structures are presently rotting away in Polytechnics for lack of students while those of Universities are being over-stretched. Some Departments in the Polytechnics are either without Students or their lecturers outnumber the students’ population. Is this country not loosing her focus on Technological Education? This country has to borrow a leaf from a country like Japan whose philosophy and objective of education is, ‘aggressive survival technology and effective use of adapted technology’.
Right now some Federal Ministries and Parastatals are gathering data for the next promotion exercise but the technical cadres on SGL 14 are completely excluded for the reason that the afore-mentioned white paper does carry with it ‘any directive’ to implement. What other directive is required, going by the Pages 5, 31 and 32 of the quoted White Paper?
Your Excellency, Mr. President, I wish to appeal once again that you use your enviable, and honourable office to save the affected officers the psychological trauma of the predicament they find themselves.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Long live Mr. President.
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Nigerian University Commission Fails Nigerians
August 16, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
According to the world ranking of universities released by Centre for World Class Universities Jiao Tong University China, no Nigerian University made it to the top 500. The report is alarming in view of the reason given for the proliferation of private universities in Nigeria. The federal government unable to sustain university education and guarantee quality education opened the flood gate to private sector participation. Despite these mushrooming universities that has become a thing of pride and competition among the religious sector of Nigeria, nothing has improved. Graduates from these universities, cannot hold a candle close to the old school graduates of government ran universities.
In a reaction to the ranking, Professor Isaac Adeyemi, the Vice Chancellor of Bell University Ota (believed to be owned by Obasanjo), said the absence of Nigerian University on the medal table was due to the absence of reliable Nigerian university website. He said that the assessors based their assessment largely on data collected from university websites worldwide.
In this era of info-tech highway, the VC’s admission is an indictment that Nigerian University Commission is yet to appreciate that the world has gone paperless. Even JAMB that has gone online for registration still cannot put her acts together. Students on exam date discover to their horror that they have conflicting exam numbers.
The professor failed to address his mind to the fact that the quantum of Nigerian undergraduates jetting out to Asian Campus of European Universities could also be a vital data used by the assessors at arriving at the rating. European Universities, especially British through British Council now come to Nigeria to organise admission and visa procedure for Nigerian Undergraduates. In the days of yore, Nigerians only went outside the shores to acquire Masters Degree or a discipline not on any Nigerian University’s curriculum. An active accomplice in this brain drain and underdevelopment of Nigeria is United Bank for Africa (UBA). Aside from the top 10 staff of UBA not obtaining any degree in Nigeria, UBA as official policy is assisting the influx of these Universities into Nigeria. Our investigation reveals that some of these Community Universities are not among the top notch in their country.
How can Nigerian Universities have a reliable website or be among the top 500 when Nigerian University Administrators connive with GSM service operators to host campus parties and lewd competitions instead of establishing a department of Information/Communication Technology/Law?
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NUT Suspends Strike Without Concession on TSS From FG.
July 30, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
After 5 weeks of ding dong between the National Union of Teachers and the Federal Government, that kept scores of primary and secondary school students out of the school, the NUT has announced a two weeks suspension of the strike. This suspension according to the NUT was an act of goodwill, to enable the FG to implement the earlier agreed Teachers Salary Structure (TSS). NUT had on 30th of June grounded her chalk and pen, forcing the students into the streets.
While the strike dragged, the NUT, lost faith in the FG team led by the Minister of Education Dr. Aja Nwachukwu and only backed down when Governors Forum, intervened with each governor promising to pay the teachers in their employment the TSS. Reliable sources have it that the armour of the Governors’ Forum was pierced when Akwa Ibom led the group of willing of states to pay their teachers. Others reluctantly followed suit, with Kwara State being the last to get on board. Earlier, the State Executive Council had said that it is against the principle of true federalism for the FG to address the issue of TSS.
Parents are happy that the schools have reopened but express fears that the Governors Forum may renege on their promises and force the NUT to resume their suspended strike. This fear is mostly expressed by parents of pupil in public schools, as NUT could not picket private schools, whose students had a full academic year.
A teacher pleading anonymity said that NUT’s suspension of the strike, is an act of weakness and a loser’s face saving strategy. According to her, the NUT should have insisted that the respective governors of the Governors’ Forum issue a circular to that effect before suspending the strike. What NUT has gotten is an empty promise that will force each state teachers union to engage his governor for implementation. He drew an analogy with the minimum wage increase granted by the FG after a suspended NLC strike. Most states have not paid the NLC negotiated minimum wage. He fumes “How can NUT trust these politicians whose children study abroad without the promise being documented?” Should the governors fail to massively implement their promise; can NUT muster the same support and good will to call another strike after 2 weeks?
Whether the governors can reciprocate this NUT gesture, only time will tell. But going by the manner this Yar’Adua’s government has been dealing with labour related issues, we have our fears that anything good can come out from the Governors Forum. First ASUU was given the cold treatment and the manipulative rule of law was bantered to give ASUU the cold treatment. The labour movement in the oil sector’s threat of strike is welcome with a counter threat by the FG of removal of subsidy. There is a looming strike in the health sector, yet Mr. President who visits Germany regularly in quest of longevity, sees no need to declare state of emergency.
Our hearts at whichwaynigeria bleed for the millions of Nigerian students dotted around the country, who will still write the same national exams irrespective of their state. The rich states can pay handsomely, while the less fortunate states will not have enough left to pay teachers after diverting state funds into the governor’s worthless pet projects.
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Teachers Strike, Enters Crucial Stage
July 29, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 1 Comment
The five weeks old strike by teachers across the federation, took a turn for the better when Gov. Bukola Saraki, chair Governors Forum broke to newsmen that the governors of the 36 states are willing to dialogue with the striking teachers. This is a welcome development as the media had last week reported that Saraki was against the teachers strike and called on Nigerians to condemn the strike.
In a reaction to this development, the teachers, have gone back to their concave to discuss with their central working committee, if the government can be trusted.
The federal government had insisted that in respect to the principle of federalism, that teachers employed by the states, should negotiate with their employers. The NUT, seeking assurance of goodwill had demanded that the FG, should first pay the 27% negotiated increment to federal government teachers and issue a circular to the same effect. This will enable the state teachers to have a leverage to negotiate with their state governors.
The FG as at press time, have not done so. It appears that this ray of hope may dim into total eclipse, if the FG does not act.
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Nigerian Teachers Resume Nationwide Strike
June 30, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
Students across the federal were turned away from school today, due to the nationwide strike embarked upon by the National Union of Teachers (NUT), an umbrella body of all the teachers in Nigeria. The NUT had suspended her three days warning strike after the Senate and other well meaning Nigerians intervened to bring the government to a round table. The teachers want a better working environment, implementation of payment of minimum wage and an upward review of their salary. According to the NUT, the Minster of Education Dr. Igwe Aja Nwachukwu was callous, rude and unfeeling towards the plight of teachers and when confronted with threat of an industrial action said “I wish you all the best”. Furthermore, the NUT accused the minister of misleading the president on the implementation of the Teachers Salary Structure. The teachers want a harmonised salary structure across the 36 states of the federation.
This renewed hostility by the teachers is expected to be long drawn, as the NUT vowed to picket any private school that refuses to participate in the strike. Most children of rich men and politicians attend private schools, where a terms school fees is equivalent to the annual salary of a teacher in a run down public school.
NUT holds the minister responsible for the failure of the talks.
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University Fundraising: the Nigeria case
It may not yet be uhuru for the cat and mouse game between the errant former collegues at the Ivory tower now Lords in NUC (National University Commission) and their remnant aluta comrades in ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) over the way and manner their current foes at FME (Federal Ministry of Education) should proceed with resolving the lingering autonomy and funding issues in the Nigerian Universities and allied educational establishments.
As long as NUC and ASUU cannot get their acts together to compel FG and FME to grant full autonomy to the Universities in Nigeria to enable them access funds from businesses and corporations without unduly charging the already impoverished and over-stretched studentry; the standard or education and quality of graduates from Nigerian universities will remain what the CBN Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo observed as poor and unemployable.
There are many options open to universites to raise funds to support academic and research work without charging extra tuition on the students. This should be made clear to allay the fears of the anti-autonomy protagonist.
The best practice the world over sees universities going all out to solicit for funds from their formal wealth student and friends of the university without unduly dishing out honourary degrees; a case in point is the latest drive by Cambridge university as reported by Education Guardian that
Cambridge University is well ahead of the pack in fundraising already. In 2001, it started a campaign to raise £1bn by 2012 from wealthy benefactors and former students - by whom it is disproportionately blessed. The report went further to state that as at July 31st last year £663M have been raised.
It is no doubt that most Nigerian Universities are equally blessed with such wealthy benefactors and former students that can help fund research and endow professorial chairs in Nigerian universities and research centres.
In the case of the UK, government is encouraging all universities “to do more to raise funds from private donations, or endowments” to enable them meet their funding needs.
In Nigeria, the case remains unclear the direction or strategy of FME and its supervisory organ (NUC) on how the universities can best be funded; to help lift the already ‘failed state’ of the Nigerian Universities.
No doubt most companies and organisations have shown a lot of responsibilities corporately towards supporting the Universities, much still needs to be done; because in the end, these companies and organisations will pick up the garbage that the underfunded universities are throwing out as employees. It is therefore imperative that these organisations and companies invest today in their tommorrows’ destined employees.
Another way forward is for the FG and FME to muster enough political will and be truthful in their dealing with ASUU towards resolving all the lingering problems in their over 15 years marathon and unending negotiations.
Although, the issues raised above may sound simplistic, the managers of the education sector in Nigeria will always have another view of complexity; coupled with the lack of continuty in programmes and policy between succeeding governments.
The big issues here therefore, are; what is different from the Nigerian case and that of the UK and other places (?) Are there no corporately responsible companies in Nigeria (?) Are we lacking of wealth benefactors and formal students OR Are the universities not blessed with them (?)These questions are begging for our answers for a start. What is your take?
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