Reps vow: We’ll end strike in universities

The House of Representatives has promised to work toward ending recurring strikes in Nigerian universities.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on University Education, Abubakar Fulata, made this known at a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC) and Vice-Chancellors of federal universities in Abuja on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

“This kind of meeting is necessary considering the fact that it is a new government, new assembly, new committee, and new committee’s leadership,” Fulata said.

He said the House leadership had created six committees out of the previous two, for quality oversight, noting that the committee was working toward ensuring quality, reliable, easy access, and rewarding university education.

“It is unfortunate that university education today is facing serious challenges spanning form strike actions, cultism, insecurity, drugs pedaling, and immoral acts,” the lawmaker added.

Fulata said the challenges required collective efforts to address, including the intervention of the committee and the contributions of all well-meaning Nigerians.

In his response, the acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Chris Maiyaki, said Nigerian universities were faced with lots of challenges.

Maiyaki expressed confidence that with the commitment of the National Assembly, some of the problems would be addressed.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, said Nigerian universities have the potential to emerge as the best in Africa.

The Star