RETIREMENT OF PROFESSORS

Posted: Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The nation's dwindling fortunes in the education sector, in recent years, elicited serious national disquiet against the background of mass failures in public examinations. Various arguments have been advanced for the reasons behind this rather disturbing trend. While some Nigerians have blamed the ugly situation on parents and the students themselves, others blamed teachers, most of whom, they say, do not possess the minimum prerequisite for teaching. Yet others laid blame at the doorstep of government for not reviewing the nation's policy on education to address the problem. Whatever it is, we dare say, all these contribute, one way or other, to declining quality of education in the country.
The setback in the education sector affects not only primary and post-primary institutions, but also tertiary institutions. The National Universities Commission (NUC) boss, Prof Julius Okojie, said recently that the training of teachers to improve upon their output and quality of teaching was part of the strategies adopted under the new road map geared towards improving standards in the system.
Last week, the president of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Nwachukwu Awuzie, raised alarm over the continuing loss of professors to retirement, despite government's promise to raise retirement age from 65 to 70 years. He said, "In 2009, part of the agreement between ASUU and the federal government was to increase the retirement age of professors from 65 to 70 years. This was later announced by the then Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili, but till date no law has been enacted to back it up."
What is indeed bothersome is ASUU's concern that between 10 and 15 professors go into retirement every month. This, if true, portends a grave danger to university education in the country. It then means that annually the country loses between 120 and 180 seasoned professors to retirement alone, not to talk of other inevitable factors such as brain drain, resignation, death or incapacitation. There is no doubt that it takes a good number of years and resources to train a professor. And so if this set of best brains are lost at such rapid rate, definitely it would have weighty consequences to the health of teaching in our universities. The NUC has pegged the minimum qualification of a university teacher at PhD. With the rate of exit of the few professors, therefore, there is the urgent need to fill in the gap to avoid collapse of the system, as a good number of them are 60 years and above.
The federal government should do everything within the shortest time possible to ensure that the law shifting retirement age of professors from 65 to 70 years is passed to save the precarious situation. The country cannot afford to lose its best brains so cheaply, especially when they are fit and sound enough to continue rendering service to their motherland. Prof Chinua Achebe who is nearly 80, Prof Wole Soyinka at over 75 – and many of such distinguished scholars – still teach in foreign universities. 70 years, we believe, is not too much for a university teacher who is mentally alert and physically fit to carry out research, supervise PhD theses and even teach rather than allow him to rot away prematurely at 65.
What we are saying is that so long as there is agreement between the federal government and ASUU on the issue of raising the retirement age of professors, the government should honour it without delay. The government must not be seen to pay lip-service to such serious looming national crisis hitting our university education. Again, as noted by the ASUU president, the new law should also encompass automatic employment for students who bag first class grades and help them obtain PhD degrees in order to help boost the dwindling fortunes in the academia. This will go a long way towards enhancing the quality of teaching, thereby improving the general decline in the academic circles.

Issues on the Presidential Poll

Posted: Friday, April 15, 2011

THE National Assembly elections which took place Saturday April 9, 2011 have, to a very large extent, proven to be a test-case for all the critical stakeholders namely the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, security agencies, media, civil society organizations and, most importantly, the electorate. Resultant and/or attendant indications from the exercise in terms of the number of votes, pattern of voting and the varied reactions of the winners and the losers represent variables that can help the stakeholders to modify their approach to the presidential election coming up tomorrow.
As the most sensitive of all the other elections, the exercise tomorrow is, expectedly and correspondingly, the most challenging. Even before it comes, most Nigerians had already been either excitedly or fearfully expressing their expectant emotions. In the main, certain realities in terms of the pronouncements and the actions of contestants and their supporters must have been making other Nigerians to make or draw varying assumptions and conclusions with regard to the conduct and outcome of the election. Although there appear to be more optimists than pessimists over the exercise, there is however substantial ground for everyone to believe that the challenges of the presidential poll are enormous.
This therefore necessitates New Nigerian to call on INEC to rise to the occasion by ensuring that all loopholes in its operations which might have caused some of the hitches experienced during the National Assembly elections are effectively plugged. Having conducted the first set of the election as a result of which it must have gained huge experience in this regard, the commission is now highly expected to come up with improved strategies for the conduct of all the subsequent elections.
Happily and interestingly, the commission as testified by its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, had either received complaints by some aggrieved parties and candidates or on its own, identified some lapses in the conduct of the last exercise. Nigerians will, therefore, not be demanding for too much, if they, on the basis of this testimony, develop strong desire for the conduct of hitch-free presidential election.
It is important, at this juncture, to remind INEC that even when most Nigerians and some critical segments of the international community have all lauded the manner in which it handled the last National Assembly elections, it is only after successful completion of the entire general elections that it can beat its chest as being different from previous electoral bodies whose poor handling of elections were mainly responsible for the stunted growth of the country's democracy.
However, it is equally important that political parties and the individual candidates consider the fact that it takes maximum observance of the election guidelines and other relevant laws by them to make success out of the exercise. They should realize that as seekers of power, they are mainly the potential beneficiaries of all the efforts made by other stakeholders towards the conduct of smooth and credible elections.
New Nigerian therefore calls on INEC to ensure that the processes of both accreditation and voting proper are, contrary to what obtained in some areas during the last exercise, done in good time so that the entire exercise can terminate as scheduled. On the other hand, the political parties, security agents and the electorate should conduct themselves in such a manner that will guarantee peace and stability during and after the election.

New Federal Varsities

Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2011

THE Federal Government recently approved the establishment of nine universities spread across the six geo-political zones in states without such federal institutions with a view to bridge the oft-highlighted huge gap in access to university education for qualified citizens. With a scheduled take off time frame of September 2011, the setting up of the new varsities was informed by the large number of exuberant candidates who however get annually stranded after taking university entrance examinations. Against the backdrop of high expectations and controversy engendered by competition and attendant frustrations for both the states with varying figures of university-ready candidates and the teeming youths, this noble drive was timely relief.
To give effect to it therefore, and to the excitement of stakeholders and beneficiary states, government has since promptly appointed vice chancellors and registrars for the new universities sited at Lokoja, Kogi State, Lafia, Nasarawa, Kashere, Wukari, Taraba, Dutse, Jigawa State and Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi. Others are located in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Dutsenma, Katsina State and Otuoke, Bayelsa. The vice chancellors are Professors Abdulmumini Rafindadi, Ekanem Ikpi Braide, Mohammed Kabir Farouk and Geoffrey Okogba respectively. The rest are Professors Jubrila Dahiru Amin, Oye Ibidapo Obe, Chinedu O. Nebo and Bolaji Aluko. Government's directive to the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to facilitate students' intake in September is also indicative of its resolve to ensure immediate take off of the new tertiary educational institutions to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the prospective candidates across the states. Noteworthy and propitious was the government's decision to appoint pioneer vice chancellors from outside of the location of the universities as part of efforts to avoid their localization. Just as the careful choice of the VCs from the ranks of former vice chancellors, deputy vice chancellors, provosts of colleges of medicines, as well as distinguished Nigerian professors in diaspora. This tallies well with the objective of designation of the institutions as expected models in the country.
New Nigerian welcomes the setting up of the new universities as a step notches higher in the efforts at taking university education to the door steps of a thirsty citizenry, and giving a long overdue boost to the sector. Over the years, thousands of qualified Nigerian students had year in year out sought placements in existing universities at great pains made worse by controversy over JAMB's inadequacies and factors such as catchment area, federal character and qualification of the candidates. The grant of licences to and establishment of more private universities which while also being welcome but however engendered new controversy over spread and standard, had understandably challenged the federal authorities to come to the aid of candidates and states held back by dearth of finances. The intervention was therefore as handy as it was timely. Additionally, the focus of some of the new varsities, especially in the areas of agriculture and science and technology, raises hope that these key sectors of the economy will receive the needed pep to allow for a departure from dependence on oil as a driving force for national development.
However, we note with some concern that the coming of the new universities raises or draws attention to lingering critical issues and challenges. Such as those of funding, staffing and equipping of the institutions especially at this time when world ranking of universities literally leaves Nigeria stranded, or to put it mildly, questions the qualities of its such institutions. Also, with the state of affairs in many of the existing universities, inadequate or poor lecture halls and laboratories, substandard equipment the brain drain syndrome et al, the onus is on government to prove it is equal to the task as regards ensuring quality and standards.
While commending government for the establishment of the new universities in the locations representative of the country's geo-political zones, we urge that it deploys adequate resources not only for their smooth and effective take off, but also ensuring that the institutions support its drive to leave a legacy of qualitative education for national manpower needs, growth and development.

2011 POLLS: LET'S GET IT RIGHT

Posted: Friday, April 8, 2011

THE tremendous enthusiasm with which Nigerians looked forward to the forthcoming general elections billed to commence tomorrow with the National Assembly election is both significant and an indication of a general resolve to make the exercise a huge success. In several ways, tomorrow's polls mark an aspect of some of the greatest landmarks in the history of the country's democracy.
The National Assembly elections which were earlier slated for last Saturday but postponed to Monday April 4, 2011 as a result of late arrival of some electoral materials particularly the results sheets, and later rescheduled to tomorrow, come as enormous relief to Nigerians who had been apprehensive, cynical or alarmist as regards the exercise. Indeed, when the elections take place, all the fears generated by the postponement and other problems will pale and thereby strengthen the confidence of the populace in the entire electoral process.
Of course, it can be firmly established to date that most of the measures taken by the government and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards the conduct of credible elections in the country have yielded positive results. There is great evidence in terms of the approach of INEC to the elections and the co-operation it is receiving from the government and the other stakeholders like the political parties, media and the civil society organisation to show that the country is, in this particular outing, on the right course and therefore most likely to get it right.
All these are manifestations of a strong resolve among all Nigerians to nurture an electoral system that is devoid of all the malpractices that marred previous elections. By constantly staking its neck on the actual conduct of free and fair polls, the INEC under the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega has provided the much needed impetus for all the other stakeholders to play the complementary roles expected of them.
Yet, it is important to call for stricter adherence to all the provisions of the Electoral Act and the election guidelines by INEC and stakeholders so that the outcome of tomorrow's and subsequent elections will serve as the foundation upon which a more people-oriented, participatory and result-yielding democratic process will be built. The political parties in particular and their respective candidates are strongly expected to observe the rules of the game by being orderly participants and, as the case may be, good winners or losers.
Certainly, the forthcoming elections will not only be a test-case for every category of Nigerian but also ascertain the effectiveness or otherwise of measures like the amendment of the Electoral Act and the reconstitution of INEC meant to strengthen the country's electoral system which, as admitted by late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in his inaugural address on May 29, 2007, was substandard. It is, in other words, the manner in which the elections are conducted and their outcome taken that will show whether or not all efforts put into the preparations for the exercise, resources, time et al, are worthy investment.
New Nigerian congratulates all Nigerians on the advent of the elections and maintains the hope that they will be a series of events that will usher the country into a period of good governance and guarantee economic prosperity, social stability and total growth. We believe it is now the time to show the rest of the world that our country has learnt enough lessons from the mistakes of the past and is now sufficiently committed to a new beginning.

ENAHORO: PASSAGE OF A PATRIOT

Posted: Sunday, December 19, 2010

Outpouring of sadness and deep sense of loss nationwide trailed the report of the death of frontline nationalist and independence hero, Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro who passed on last Wednesday in his residence in Benin City. His death came after months of worry and speculation over his health, and not long after he was discharged from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. A foremost nationalist, journalist of repute, human rights and democracy activist, as well as a skilled parliamentarian and public administrator, the late elder statesman will sorely be missed especially at this time of the country’s chequered democratization which level he would have loved to see notches better or higher.
Condolence messages ranging from those of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Senate President David Mark and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar to others from state governors, ministers, segments of the civil society and the citizenry generally captured Enahoro’s illuminating place in Nigeria’s history, as well as the monumental loss his death occasioned. As the president said, the struggle for freedom from all forms of dictatorship which the late statesman pursued with uncommon vigour made him stand above his peers. It is to his credit that the first move towards the country’s independence was made via his motion in 1953 in the Federal House of Representatives where he was well known as a courageous and irrepressible parliamentarian. As a great politician, a fighter for justice and crusader for the emancipation of the nation and the oppressed, Enahoro at every point demonstrated exemplary selflessness and dedication and suffered indignation and deprivation which never deterred him. Regarded as the last remaining titans of the struggle for independence, Enahoro also courageously fought for full democratization and true federalism in the nation, many times having brushes with the authorities.
Chief Enahoro was born to Chief Anatasius Okotako and Mrs. Inibokun Okogie Enahoro in Uromi, Edo State on July 22, 1923. He was educated at Government College, Owo and King’s College, Lagos. He became Nigeria’s youngest editor when he was appointed by the Southern Nigeria Defender in 1944 at the age of 21. The newspaper was the published by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He later became the editor of Daily Comet in Kano, while between 1945 and 1949, he served as the associate editor of West African Pilot, Lagos and Editor-in-Chief of Morning Star from 1950 to 1953. His first political party was the Action Group as a member from Ishan-East in the Western House of Assembly in 1951 in the first republic. He later became the minister of Home Affairs and Information, Western Nigeria 1954 to 1959. Between 1959 and 1963, late Enahoro was a member of the Federal House of Representatives where he served as opposition spokesman on foreign and legislative affairs. He was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in 1963, and was released in 1966 when he was pardoned by the Gowon government which also appointed him Minister of Information, Labour and Culture. He was the principal federal negotiator of the peace talks that ended Nigeria’s civil war of 1967 to 1970.
In December 1992, Enahoro joined forces with other associates to launch the Movement for National Restoration (MNR) as a grand coalition of progressive and populist forces campaigning for democracy, equity and justice in Nigeria. With the military’s annulment of the June 12 presidential election believed to have been won by Chief MKO Abiola, he was named the chairman of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which struggled to actualize that mandate through consistent agitation for the revalidation of the results. He also chairmaned the pro-National Conference Organization (PRONACO). Chief Enahoro was conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 1982, and honorary Doctor of Science (DSC) degree by the University of Benin in 1972.
In joining other Nigerians to mourn the painful death of this great patriot who has no doubt left indelible footprints in the country’s sand of time, New Nigerian believes there is no better way to glorify him than in emulating the ideals of freedom, patriotism, democracy and development which he fought for all his life. We urge the Edo State and Federal Governments to immortalize him in ways befitting of one who has paid his due in exemplary ways in the service of the people and country. May his soul rest in peace.