Gom Mirian
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns over the inclusion of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) spending in the country’s annual budget.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, speaking at an event in Abuja on Thursday, Osodeke expressed suspicion that with the agency’s bill merged with the national budget, it may not receive full implementation of proposed projects and programmes.
The fund supports educational development in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and there are concerns that including its money bill in the national budget may lead to inadequate disbursement and utilisation for intended ppurposs.
Osodeke, therefore, called on relevant agencies to separate the bbudgets to ensure effective implementation.
He also challenged Nigerian leaders to overcome their ”inferiority complex” and rely on local services and ideas, noting that many countries that have developed successfully utilised their ideas and people, which are abundant in universities.
Using the issue of a payment platform for government workers for example, he recalled, “In 2020, we were challenged to produce something better than IPPIS. It took us two months to produce it, UTA, which we have presented to the National Assembly, to the House. Then we said, let’s test the two and IPPIS came last, but Nigeria insisted on using IPPIS.
“Every year, the Nigerian government pays $40 to a company in the UK for paying me salary and you reject the one in your university. You want to do anything, you run abroad.”
The ASUU chairman also warned against political interference in TETFund and emphasised the need to rescue the country from its current crisis.
He said: “Nigeria is in deep crisis. Our best brains, whether in the academic or medical, are leaving the country. Thousands of our colleagues, the good ones are leaving the country. Some are leaving to go and farm. We must rescue our country. Allow the money for universities to go into universities.”
The Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, acknowledged the efforts being made by Nigerian researchers in various fields, including the development of vaccines for preventable diseases.
He called on TETFund to protect the copyright ownership of innovators’ products and services and emphasised the importance of collaboration with the academic industry and other stakeholders to ensure the marketability of the products.
Meanehile, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono, has harped on the importance of transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. He stated that Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind, while emphasising TETFund’s commitment to supporting research, innovation, and development as a strategy for sustainable growth.
“Through the Initiative, selected teams of researchers and academic staff with promising ideas for innovative solutions in the programme’s areas of focus were supported via intensive in-person and online training. mentorship and provision of access to high-end technology /specialised machinery to bring their ideas to fruition,” he added.
