By Samuel Ogunsona
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has lauded the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria over the recent disbursement of funds into Nigeria tertiary institutions.
The disbursement is part of the Federal Government’s intervention fund.
In a statement by NANs Public Relations officers, Giwa Yisa Temitope, made available to Irohinodua, the students Central body praised the FG for the gesture.
Giwa said ‘We find it noteworthy to commend the Federal Government for approving #24.2bn for free internet at Airports and varsities. It is important we state that as an association, we have been at the vanguard of the campaign for the proper funding of the educational sector which brought about the ACAREF campaign launched by our noble association in the late ’90s”
However, “The approval is more or less a piecemeal but we believe it is in tandem with our demand for the proper funding of educational sector most especially for the provision of materials that will aid teaching and learning in our institutions of learning” He added.
“It is still fresh in our memories how institutions of learning were shutdown during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria because the Federal Government has failed to make preparations for cases like that”
“During the period, the South West body of our noble association continued to make case for a need to go virtual with teaching and learning because, according to us, we believe that nothing warrants putting academic activities on hold. So, with this approval coming to fore, we can only call on the Federal Government to ensure that it is systemic and also not commercialized”
Giwa who laud the investment in education by federal government also urge the Economy Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to track the judicious use of the funds.
He said, “We also commend the Federal Government for approving the disbursement of #330.3bn intervention funds for public tertiary institutions in the country through TETFUND-TSA account. This, to us, is also commendable. As a matter of fact, it is a way to go towards funding the educational sector. We believe it is wrong for the government to continue abandoning institutions of learning after establishment. Rather, sufficient funds should be made available to ease teaching and learning”
“Going forward, we call on EFCC and ICPC to ensure that the funds are tracked and that institutions whose managements don’t make judicious use of the funds be tried in order to serve as deterrence for other”
“Accountability must be enforced” Giwa Said.