ASUU strike, University Tuition and the reality of the "reality"

This week, Sen. Chris Ngige (MoLEP) categorically stated that Universities must be given full autonomy; he meant that universities must be generating enough revenues for their operations. He lamented that ASUU always makes demands to the FG, and when government intends to increase school fees ASUU resists and goes on strike. He finally vowed and pledged to push for the introduction of tuition in the public universities before the end of their tenure (next year). What it means is that, university councils will be empowered to generate enough money for running their respective universities. This, if actualized, will likely be extended to all other public tertiary institutions in the country (colleges, polytechnic, etc), otherwise they become comatose, because government will no longer fund them as well.

Some experts here and elsewhere, argue that Ngige was right, that ASUU won't eat its cake and still have it; the universities shouldn't claim autonomy in expenditure but be dependent on government when it comes to revenue (which is the status quo). Some even argue that it is no longer feasible for FGN to continue funding tertiary education in the country; and they see it as the only "reality". Though I don't know how did they arrive at that reality (because Nigeria's budget now is in excess of N20 trillion, financing all sorts of silly things including free cash transfer, but it is only education expenditure that we cannot sustain), however, it is the reality of their suppose "reality" that I intend to analyse in this piece.

My analysis focuses solely on undergraduate programs because they constitute probably more than 80% of the University students and PG students have been paying in excess of N100 thousand as school fees (so won't be affected that much, after all PG study is one's prerogative, unlike UG).

My department has 27 academic staffers (10 are professors) and at least 5 non-teaching staff. Our annual salary alone (before deductions) will reach N110 million. This is a very modest estimate as I consider N500k as monthly remuneration for a professor before any deduction. The running of the Department, including consumables (sanitary, academic, utilities, administrative, etc), IT, repairs and maintenance, training, conference and seminar attendance, publications, stationary, among others, put together at N90 million per annum (this is also very conservative). So we can infer that my Department alone needs minimum of N200 million for effective running. Remember, the cost of departmental businesses with other departments, faculty and the University are not included. Equally, no capital project is included.

Now, the department has maximum of 1000 students. For them to cover only the departmental recurrent cost they need to pay N200,000 each. In addition, they will contribute to the running of the faculty and the University, including clinic, sports, library, hostels, IT centres, laboratories, and the salary/allowances of the central authorities in the University, including the allowances of the council members, among others. Of course, this is if we assume zero contribution from the Federal Government, as this is the full autonomy Ngige calls for. Though he talked about grants and endowments, but I believe those are only sufficient for settlement of electricity bills if at all they can cater. Moreover, endowments, investiture and grants are mostly given by the donors for specific purposes, like prizes, researches and specific buildings; they are not meant for day-to-day operations of the beneficiary.
Now, the reality of the "reality"

Those seeing the scenario depicted above as the reality should ponder on the subsequent realities that will inevitably follow:
1. Many students will withdraw from university because they can't afford the tuition. If 50% withdraw for example, that means the remaining 50% will pay N400,000 each to run my department alone, which I am very sure another 50% of them cannot afford. Then more will have to give up, till only the sons of the "rich" will remain (may be 100 students paying N2 million each to run the department).
2. Many programs/departments will close because no student will be willing to patronize them at those rates. I don't want to mention names because I believe any knowledge is essential, but we certainly know that some departments will not get any student at that rate. I read so many reports of some programs closed down in some Western universities because of low patronage. Hence, we'll not have experts in those fields henceforth. Ponder on this; do you know of any private university in Nigeria offering degrees in Nigerian Languages? This is exactly what will happen to the commercialized public universities, without any prejudice to those programs.
3. Lecturers in the closed departments will loose their jobs. Also of the surviving departments, only the necessary number of staff will be retained for efficiency. Meaning, lecturers will have to go and look for jobs elsewhere. Indeed, there won't be any job security in the system. In fact, we may reach a point where an entire university will be closed especially in those states with more than one public universities.
4. Courses that are considered lucrative, e.g. medicine and allied health Sciences and possibly Engineering, will only be pursued by those from wealthy background, who may not even be willing to practice what they learn after graduation, just like Ngige and Saraki. Thus, we will have paucity of manpower is such essential professions.
5. Think of the societal vices that will follow if the son of an ordinary man cannot attend school; when all he /she sees is a blinking future amidst the prosperous sons and daughters of the wealthy. Think of the chaos that will follow. I am not spelling doom, but only analysing the reality.
6. Above all, think of Nigeria when public universities are finally killed through neoliberal policies.
8. Think on the reality of your reality!

Good morning
Dr. Shamsuddeen, BUK

APC have come to kill, to steal and to destroy. What APC cannot destroy does not exist.