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| Prof Egya |
Half
of university problems are caused by vice chancellors – Prof Egya
of university problems are caused by vice chancellors – Prof Egya
Sule Emmanuel
Egya is a professor of African Literature and Cultural Studies at the Ibrahim
Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger state. In an exclusive interview with UJI ABDULLAHI
ILIYASU, he talks about Nigeria’s poor budgetary allocation to education,
incessant ASUU strikes, establishment of state version of TETFund and the
ethnicisation of Nigerian universities and sundry issues.
Egya is a professor of African Literature and Cultural Studies at the Ibrahim
Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger state. In an exclusive interview with UJI ABDULLAHI
ILIYASU, he talks about Nigeria’s poor budgetary allocation to education,
incessant ASUU strikes, establishment of state version of TETFund and the
ethnicisation of Nigerian universities and sundry issues.
Do
you think it is justified for ASUU’s incessant strikes?
you think it is justified for ASUU’s incessant strikes?
In
my view, even if ASUU goes on strike 10 times in a year, it is justified. I am
in the system and I know that the system is a mess. And for those of us who
have visited universities outside Nigeria, attained the status of international
scholarship, we know that the system here is terribly bad. Consider these
issues: 300 or more students in one class, a lecturer supervising 40 student
projects, a university running on a generator, lack of or chaotic internet
network on campus, overcrowded hostels, highly insecure campuses, I can go on
listing them. Not to talk of the fact that the Nigerian lecturer perhaps has
the worst condition of service in Africa.
Our government has never been a listening one. What we need is pressure.
We need great pressures to force the government to do the right thing. If
government doesn’t want ASUU to go on strike, they should give us the minimum
standard in universities. I do not know
of any university that gives its staff research grant. How do you drive a
society without research? How can a society move forward without research? And
don’t argue that because TETFund is giving money for research, the universities
shouldn’t give fund for research and other necessary facilities. As a
professor, my university should be able to earmark research grant for me and
provide every conducive environment for me to be able to undertake such
research. They should also create a conducive environment for teaching and
learning. All these things hardly exist in our universities. The state
governments and federal government should revisit their very poor budgetary
allocations to education to stop ASUU from going on strike. Countries that are
not suffering from out-of-school children syndrome or countries that are not
educationally disadvantaged put more money in education than our country which
is educationally disadvantaged. Why should annual education budgets hover
around seven per cent in a society where millions of children are out of
school?
my view, even if ASUU goes on strike 10 times in a year, it is justified. I am
in the system and I know that the system is a mess. And for those of us who
have visited universities outside Nigeria, attained the status of international
scholarship, we know that the system here is terribly bad. Consider these
issues: 300 or more students in one class, a lecturer supervising 40 student
projects, a university running on a generator, lack of or chaotic internet
network on campus, overcrowded hostels, highly insecure campuses, I can go on
listing them. Not to talk of the fact that the Nigerian lecturer perhaps has
the worst condition of service in Africa.
Our government has never been a listening one. What we need is pressure.
We need great pressures to force the government to do the right thing. If
government doesn’t want ASUU to go on strike, they should give us the minimum
standard in universities. I do not know
of any university that gives its staff research grant. How do you drive a
society without research? How can a society move forward without research? And
don’t argue that because TETFund is giving money for research, the universities
shouldn’t give fund for research and other necessary facilities. As a
professor, my university should be able to earmark research grant for me and
provide every conducive environment for me to be able to undertake such
research. They should also create a conducive environment for teaching and
learning. All these things hardly exist in our universities. The state
governments and federal government should revisit their very poor budgetary
allocations to education to stop ASUU from going on strike. Countries that are
not suffering from out-of-school children syndrome or countries that are not
educationally disadvantaged put more money in education than our country which
is educationally disadvantaged. Why should annual education budgets hover
around seven per cent in a society where millions of children are out of
school?
Why
is ASUU insisting that members will not enroll on IPPIS?
is ASUU insisting that members will not enroll on IPPIS?
ASUU
has its own problem but the federal government, especially the Buhari
government, is emasculating the university education. He is drying the
universities rather than nourishing the system. What I mean is that instead of
putting more money to the university education, he wants to take away what the
universities are surviving on. Isn’t it clear to every Nigerian by now that the
Buhari government appears not knowing the values of education? The Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is one way of reducing the
amount of money that should be going to universities. I am not surprised that
they are coming up with IPPIS and other measures that will impoverish
universities. ASUU chairman is not right to say IPPIS is a distraction and not
the main cause of agitation. I don’t think IPPIS is completely a distraction.
The government said they are using it to fight corruption, and fighting
corruption cannot be a distraction. However, I think that the government should
drop the idea of using IPPIS to fight corruption in universities. It should
adopt other measures. Have there not been measures for fighting corruption in
the university before the emergence of the IPPIS? It does not capture the
peculiarities in the university system. ASUU has produced a template that will
capture all these peculiarities but the federal government is not interested in
it.
has its own problem but the federal government, especially the Buhari
government, is emasculating the university education. He is drying the
universities rather than nourishing the system. What I mean is that instead of
putting more money to the university education, he wants to take away what the
universities are surviving on. Isn’t it clear to every Nigerian by now that the
Buhari government appears not knowing the values of education? The Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is one way of reducing the
amount of money that should be going to universities. I am not surprised that
they are coming up with IPPIS and other measures that will impoverish
universities. ASUU chairman is not right to say IPPIS is a distraction and not
the main cause of agitation. I don’t think IPPIS is completely a distraction.
The government said they are using it to fight corruption, and fighting
corruption cannot be a distraction. However, I think that the government should
drop the idea of using IPPIS to fight corruption in universities. It should
adopt other measures. Have there not been measures for fighting corruption in
the university before the emergence of the IPPIS? It does not capture the
peculiarities in the university system. ASUU has produced a template that will
capture all these peculiarities but the federal government is not interested in
it.
Can
the IPPIS fight corruption as claimed by the federal government?
the IPPIS fight corruption as claimed by the federal government?
That
is possible. I can confirm that there is a lot of corruption in the
universities. Most of the managements of universities are corrupt. I believe
that half of the university problems are caused by the vice chancellors. We
have corrupt vice chancellors who recklessly misuse funds. They create
unnecessary expenses without giving priority to core academic matters. How can
a vice chancellor use the university’s meagre funds to travel around the world
in the name of creating collaborations for the university in the same manners
that our politicians travel around the world on public funds under the pretence
of attracting investments? It is highly respected, world-class scholars and
researchers that attract collaborations, networks, even investments to
universities, not vice chancellors. A vice chancellor should remain in the
university and run it well. Running a university is not a small task. But you
find our vice chancellors, like the politicians that they desperately ape,
running around wasting the university’s money. That said, I don’t think IPPIS
should be the only instrument for fighting corruption. IPPIS can be used to
fight corruption in the civil service but not in academia because of its
special case. The federal government can devise alternative means of fighting
corruption.
is possible. I can confirm that there is a lot of corruption in the
universities. Most of the managements of universities are corrupt. I believe
that half of the university problems are caused by the vice chancellors. We
have corrupt vice chancellors who recklessly misuse funds. They create
unnecessary expenses without giving priority to core academic matters. How can
a vice chancellor use the university’s meagre funds to travel around the world
in the name of creating collaborations for the university in the same manners
that our politicians travel around the world on public funds under the pretence
of attracting investments? It is highly respected, world-class scholars and
researchers that attract collaborations, networks, even investments to
universities, not vice chancellors. A vice chancellor should remain in the
university and run it well. Running a university is not a small task. But you
find our vice chancellors, like the politicians that they desperately ape,
running around wasting the university’s money. That said, I don’t think IPPIS
should be the only instrument for fighting corruption. IPPIS can be used to
fight corruption in the civil service but not in academia because of its
special case. The federal government can devise alternative means of fighting
corruption.
What
do you say about TETFund funding state universities?
do you say about TETFund funding state universities?
State
universities are not being run well. Sometimes you wonder why they were
established in the first place. But are the federal universities being run
well? The problem is a general one. The elite class that runs this country hate
education with passion. As everyone knows, universities have far more attention
than the secondary and primary levels. What I think is that most of these state
universities shouldn’t have existed. One way of getting out of this problem is
to enact a law in which all state governments are compelled to establish
educational endowment fund. Every state that has a university should have an
endowment fund, just like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund),
dedicated to running its university, but not only for universities but for
primary and secondary schools.
universities are not being run well. Sometimes you wonder why they were
established in the first place. But are the federal universities being run
well? The problem is a general one. The elite class that runs this country hate
education with passion. As everyone knows, universities have far more attention
than the secondary and primary levels. What I think is that most of these state
universities shouldn’t have existed. One way of getting out of this problem is
to enact a law in which all state governments are compelled to establish
educational endowment fund. Every state that has a university should have an
endowment fund, just like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund),
dedicated to running its university, but not only for universities but for
primary and secondary schools.
Is
the proliferation of private universities good for Nigeria?
the proliferation of private universities good for Nigeria?
Proliferation
of private universities is a function of a failed system. People think it is a
form of capitalism but for me it is a result of a failed state. Nigerian state
has failed education and some money making businessmen are taking advantage of
that by establishing universities in order to make money. In reality, there
shouldn’t be room for private universities if the governments have taken good
care of public universities. If every state has a university, why should there
be need for private universities? I
think private universities should be discouraged. NUC should try to discourage
the establishment of private universities and see how they can enforce proper
funding for public universities.
of private universities is a function of a failed system. People think it is a
form of capitalism but for me it is a result of a failed state. Nigerian state
has failed education and some money making businessmen are taking advantage of
that by establishing universities in order to make money. In reality, there
shouldn’t be room for private universities if the governments have taken good
care of public universities. If every state has a university, why should there
be need for private universities? I
think private universities should be discouraged. NUC should try to discourage
the establishment of private universities and see how they can enforce proper
funding for public universities.
Do you agree that our universities are
highly localised?
highly localised?
They
are worse. They are localised, provincialised and ethnicised. It is so worse
that you don’t have academics and students moving freely and smoothly between
universities in Nigeria. If students and lecturers cannot move freely, cannot
cross fertilize within the same country, how is it possible to bring people
from outside the country? That is one of the first problems. A state
establishes a university and ethnicises it to a very ridiculous level, such
that incompetent ethnic jingoists take over the running of the university. Even
the federal universities are suffering from what they called quota system or
federal character or whatever. For
someone to go to a federal university, they still look at indigeneship and
catchment area and whatever. Until we are able to deal with these matters there
is no way we can begin to have foreign lecturers and foreign students here.
are worse. They are localised, provincialised and ethnicised. It is so worse
that you don’t have academics and students moving freely and smoothly between
universities in Nigeria. If students and lecturers cannot move freely, cannot
cross fertilize within the same country, how is it possible to bring people
from outside the country? That is one of the first problems. A state
establishes a university and ethnicises it to a very ridiculous level, such
that incompetent ethnic jingoists take over the running of the university. Even
the federal universities are suffering from what they called quota system or
federal character or whatever. For
someone to go to a federal university, they still look at indigeneship and
catchment area and whatever. Until we are able to deal with these matters there
is no way we can begin to have foreign lecturers and foreign students here.
Another
point is that what we are running is not standard enough to attract foreign
lecturers and foreign students. As a matter of fact, foreign lecturers and
foreign students will not understand the system we are running. How do you
bring in foreign students and then in the middle of their studies ASUU goes on
strike? It doesn’t make sense.
point is that what we are running is not standard enough to attract foreign
lecturers and foreign students. As a matter of fact, foreign lecturers and
foreign students will not understand the system we are running. How do you
bring in foreign students and then in the middle of their studies ASUU goes on
strike? It doesn’t make sense.
How has been TETFund impacting university
education?
education?
The
generalisation by TETFund director in Dubai that lecturers were misusing
research grants doesn’t speak well of the director, if indeed he said so. I
respect TETFund and its Executive Secretary. And I have benefitted quite a lot
from the Fund. Thank God you said the TETFund director was misquoted. TETFund
is doing its best but it needed to re-strategise because TETfund has a wrong
notion that building physical facilities is what makes a university. It is the
quality of teachers and students that makes a university. They should
concentrate on laboratories, libraries and provide material students can read
and become great. Without knowing it TETFund is sometimes contributing to the
downfall of education.
generalisation by TETFund director in Dubai that lecturers were misusing
research grants doesn’t speak well of the director, if indeed he said so. I
respect TETFund and its Executive Secretary. And I have benefitted quite a lot
from the Fund. Thank God you said the TETFund director was misquoted. TETFund
is doing its best but it needed to re-strategise because TETfund has a wrong
notion that building physical facilities is what makes a university. It is the
quality of teachers and students that makes a university. They should
concentrate on laboratories, libraries and provide material students can read
and become great. Without knowing it TETFund is sometimes contributing to the
downfall of education.
Take
for instance, TETFund builds auditoriums and classrooms for a university. Then
the management of the university will say because they have auditoriums and classrooms,
they have the carrying capacity to admit 300 students in a department. Meanwhile there are just about 10 lecturers
in that department. Then a lecturer is confronted with a large, unteachable
class, or supervises 40 student projects. Imagine how a lecturer will give
attention to 40 students in one year. But the university will tell you that
they have the carrying capacity because TETFund has given them structures. Both
the federal and state governments are not ready to employ lecturers. You just told
me that Professor Bogoro said he was going to focus more on research and
development. In that case, I advise that the focus shouldn’t be on lecturers
alone but also on students. In point of fact, some of the lecturers are not
worth the investment TETFUND makes on them. What is the point of sponsoring an
incompetent lecturer? In my view, focusing only on lecturers is one big
mistake. TETFUND should also empower the
students. They should give the students standard internet. They should give
them online libraries, physical libraries, cutting edge laboratories, and other
facilities. TETFUND should identify brilliant postgraduate students and give
them grants. In fact, TETFUND should unbundle itself from universities and deal
with individual students and researchers. Deal directly with the students and
researchers, and ensure that anti-corruption agencies grab anyone who
misappropriates the funds.
for instance, TETFund builds auditoriums and classrooms for a university. Then
the management of the university will say because they have auditoriums and classrooms,
they have the carrying capacity to admit 300 students in a department. Meanwhile there are just about 10 lecturers
in that department. Then a lecturer is confronted with a large, unteachable
class, or supervises 40 student projects. Imagine how a lecturer will give
attention to 40 students in one year. But the university will tell you that
they have the carrying capacity because TETFund has given them structures. Both
the federal and state governments are not ready to employ lecturers. You just told
me that Professor Bogoro said he was going to focus more on research and
development. In that case, I advise that the focus shouldn’t be on lecturers
alone but also on students. In point of fact, some of the lecturers are not
worth the investment TETFUND makes on them. What is the point of sponsoring an
incompetent lecturer? In my view, focusing only on lecturers is one big
mistake. TETFUND should also empower the
students. They should give the students standard internet. They should give
them online libraries, physical libraries, cutting edge laboratories, and other
facilities. TETFUND should identify brilliant postgraduate students and give
them grants. In fact, TETFUND should unbundle itself from universities and deal
with individual students and researchers. Deal directly with the students and
researchers, and ensure that anti-corruption agencies grab anyone who
misappropriates the funds.