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General News of Monday, 16 December 2019

Source: punchng.com

Don't compel universities to increase IGR- ASUU

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Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), has told the president, General Mohammadu Buhari not to compel universities to increase their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Speaking in an interview, chairman, ASSU, University of Lagos, Dr. Dele Ashiru said that the university education system is not a money-making venture and as such shouldn't be seen as an industry.

He explained that the university is a citadel of knowledge production and not business centers. "It is so unfortunate that this is coming from the president. Universities are not supposed to be a business environment. It is the responsibility of the State to educate the people and not pauperize them. In a situation whereby universities produce pure water, table water, bread, it is wrong. These are not the core mandates of universities" he said.

He called on the president to be alive to its responsibilities of funding education, providing an enabling environment for learning, to mention a few. "The university system was established to develop the society, it is not a money-making venture. Asking them to increase their IGR is alien to the system".

"I have not heard of any instance where the FG gave consultancy to universities to solve the many issues in the country rather he is asking them to increased their IGR," he said.

In another development, Ashiru also spoke on the recent call by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Mohammad that Sharia law should be taught in the university and in Arabic language. Ashiru said that it is a strange request to the university system. "It is a strange call. Why is the Chief Justice of the Federation who is supposed to be objective, scholarly and an interpreter of law clamouring for a specific faculty for a specific kind of law? This is unbecoming and it is a worrisome call" said Ashiru.