National-University-Commission
TVC E, NEWS – A former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Laide Abbas, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to scrap the National Universities Commission and outlaw the governing councils of universities.
Describing NUC as an aberration, Abbas said that in his over two decades of working as a university administrator, he had never come across an establishment like the NUC in advanced countries.
Abbas, who spoke at an award ceremony organised by The Wings Schools, in Iwo, on Saturday, lamented the dearth of role models in the country. The Professor of Computer Science said that the lack of role models had affected the development of Nigerian youths.
He also said that the composition of many governing councils of universities nationwide had been replete with unworthy personalities.
Prof. Julius Okojie, NUC Sec. General
Recounting the story of the birth of the NUC, Abbas said the commission was to serve as a link between government and the university so that vice-chancellors will not be seen parading the corridors of power to get funds.
“(The late) F.R.A Williams, as the pioneer chairman of the NUC, used his contacts to raise funds for the commission and its activities were managed well but now what we have is an NUC that feeds fat on the meagre resources available to the education sector.”
He alleged that some members of universities’ governing councils were linked to the diversion of public funds, while many others engaged in outright stealing of public funds.
Rather than keeping NUC, Abbas noted that an external examination body or group with lesser financial implications could do the regulatory and supervisory roles being played by the NUC.
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