'FG must be very careful' - Varsity VCs warn

The Association of Vice-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities has asked that the federal government allow the varsity senates to come up with their own modalities for admission.

Speaking at the 4th Biennial Conference on the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria held in Ogun, Secretary General of the association, Michael Faborede said that since education was on the concurrent list in the 1999 Constitution, the federal government should be careful in making pronouncements on educational matters that would affect the states and private universities.

In his speech, Faborede urged the education minister, Adamu Adamu to understand the right of each university senate to prescribe the modality for admissions and also that education matters will affect the state and private universities.

The secretary-general called on pro-chancellors to support vice-chancellors in this effort in the interest of a credible university system.

He added that the association will hold a higher education summit in October which will enable it create a way forward for the nation’s higher education system.

Mr. Faborede called on all state governors to use the Nigeria Governors Forum to ensure the maintenance of standard of state universities and how the could benefit maximally from the Tertiary Education Tax Fund.

“We believe that the Governor’s Forum is very crucial to ensuring the maintenance of standard of state universities, and how they benefit maximally from the Tertiary Education Tax Fund,” he said.