Constitution Mandates FG To Fund Universities – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plan to grant autonomy to universities, arguing that the government cannot completely withdraw funding for tertiary education.

VerseNews reports that Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on September 15, 2023.

He emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution mandates the Federal Government to fund public universities and cited Section 18 of the Constitution, which guarantees free education at the university, primary, and secondary levels.

While acknowledging the government’s search for new funding methods for universities, Osodeke asserted that complete disengagement from funding is not feasible.

He suggested that if universities are allowed to operate autonomously as stipulated in the law (initiated in 2003), without interference from bureaucrats, they can generate sufficient funds to sustain their operations.

Osodeke also advocated for increased investment in education in Nigeria, similar to what European countries do, to ensure universities have adequate resources for providing quality education.