President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his support
to universities and other tertiary institutions to enable
them produce the necessary skilled manpower.
The president made the declaration at the 33rd
convocation ceremony of Bayero University, Kano (BUK)
where he was represented by the Executive Secretary,
National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Adamu
Rasheed, Guardian writes.\
Calling on varsities to rise up to their responsibilities by
providing the needed skilled manpower to meet the
current global challenges, Buhari maintained that
government would do its part in ensuring that the
Nigerian project is actualized.
“We shall continue to sacrifice our time and energy as
well as to ensure fairness, integrity and dedication in
order to change the fortunes of our country,’’ he said.
“Government will continue to monitor developments in the
universities to ensure that they are developed, respect
good governance and rule of law.”
He thanked Nigerians for their prayers while he was on
medical vacation in the United Kingdom, while restating
his administration’s commitment to the fight against
corruption.
“We are encouraged by the prayers to change the
country. We shall continue to stand firmly to fight
corruption and improve security for the development of
the country, “he said.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad
Yahuza, said that no fewer than 8, 634 graduands were
awarded various degrees and post graduates diplomas,
with a total of 52 first class graduates recorded.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) said universities were faced with imminent
closure following lack of prompt payment of staff
salaries by the government.
This was disclosed in a news conference in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, titled, ‘Shortfall and drawback of
university staff salaries’, where the Port Harcourt zone
of the union lamented the neglect of lecturers by their
employers.
Speaking at the conference, the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU,
Prof. Beke Sese, described the idea of withholding
university staff salaries while establishing new
universities at the same time as the height of
irresponsibility and wickedness, stating that lecturers
would no longer continue to endure the situations against
the backdrop of current economic hardship.
“Our members are being compelled by the actions and
inactions of government to contemplate the hard decision
of withdrawing our services,” he said.
