Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU), has raised the alarm over the proliferation of universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.
SSANU described it as a threat to tertiary education system in Nigeria.
The university-based labour union observed that the universities have almost become constituency projects as almost every politician tries to sponsor bill for the establishment or upgrade of an institution to a university in his or her constituency. The observation was made at the end of the 34th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of SSANU held at the Delta State University, Abraka.
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A communique signed and released at the end of the meeting by SSANU President, Samson Ugwoke, agreed there is shortage of admission opportunities for interested university candidates, but proliferation of universities could not be the solution. The union suggested that government should improve funding and infrastructure in existing universities, so as to increase carrying capacities and admit more students.
It also suggested that government should place premium on internal control, to stem corruption in universities, indiscipline, academic fraud, sex for marks and other ills.