FG pledges to ensure stable academic calendar for tertiary institutions

The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to ensuring a stable academic calendar for tertiary institutions in the country, amid the challenges posed by insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated this on Monday at an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) in Abuja.

Mamman said the government of President Bola Tinubu was keenly interested in having a conducive environment for learning, research, collaboration, and student exchange to take place in the nation’s universities.

He also said the government had increased the salaries of workers in tertiary institutions as part of its efforts to improve their welfare and motivate them to deliver quality education.

The minister noted that plans were ongoing to review the security architecture for schools in the country in view of the recent attacks and abductions of students and staff by bandits and terrorists.

He said the government was also working on providing alternative sources of energy for universities through gas-powered facilities, using the public-private partnership (PPP) window.

He said the scheme was intended to start with 18 universities in the first instance, and the shortlisted universities would be contacted at the appropriate stage of the project.

Mamman also challenged the CVCNU to place Nigerian universities among global institutions that use science and technology as vehicles for solving their problems.

He said the government had set up a committee to provide a roadmap to guide policy, implementation plans, deliverables, and key performance indicators for the education sector.

He said the report of the committee was expected to be submitted this month.

The minister commended the CVCNU for its contributions to the development of higher education in Nigeria since its inception in 1962.

He also congratulated the University of Ibadan for producing the highest number of vice chancellors among Nigerian universities.

The Secretary General of the CVCNU, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, who gave a brief history of the committee, said it had played a vital role in promoting academic excellence, research collaboration, quality assurance, and advocacy for Nigerian universities.

He said the committee had also been involved in facilitating student and staff exchange programmes, curriculum development, accreditation, and ranking of universities.

He said the committee would continue to work with the government and other stakeholders to address the challenges facing the university system and enhance its global competitiveness.