The Fiscal Imprudence of Expanding Nigeria's Federal Universities

 

The pursuit of new university establishments, while noble in theory, risks further straining Nigeria's higher education system, diverting vital resources from the urgent task of enhancing and repairing the beleaguered institutions that already exist.

In the wake of recent legislative developments, Nigeria stands on the precipice of a significant expansion in its higher education sector. The bill proposing the establishment of 47 new federal universities, alongside various other tertiary institutions, has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. This move, while ostensibly aimed at enhancing educational opportunities, demands a critical examination in the context of fiscal responsibility and the current state of existing institutions.

Presently, Nigeria's educational landscape features an extensive network of 52 federal universities, each grappling with challenges stemming from insufficient funding and widespread infrastructural decay. This scenario is compounded by the fact that these universities are unevenly distributed across the country, with certain states accommodating more than one, yet this proliferation hasn't been met with adequate financial backing. Adding to the complexity of the situation, the nation's higher education sector is further saturated with 22 federal medical centers, 27 federal colleges of education, and 40 polytechnics. This burgeoning number of institutions, rather than symbolizing educational advancement, highlights a critical issue: the existing facilities are struggling to maintain quality standards and meet the growing demands of Nigeria's burgeoning student population. The lack of investment and attention to the existing infrastructure presents a paradox in a country keen on expanding its educational reach, yet seemingly unable to sufficiently support and upgrade its current educational establishments.

Under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the Nigerian House of Representatives has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to addressing educational challenges, as evidenced by their rigorous examination of a plethora of legislative proposals. In the latter half of 2023, this legislative body embarked on an ambitious review of an overwhelming number of submissions, totaling 962 bills, 500 motions, and 153 petitions, signifying a proactive stance towards educational reform. Among these, 120 bills have successfully progressed beyond the second reading, signaling a potential reshaping of the educational landscape. This batch of legislation notably includes forward-thinking proposals for the establishment of new specialized universities in fields such as Science and Technology, Agriculture, Aviation, Medicals, and Engineering. These proposed institutions aim to cater to the evolving educational and professional needs of Nigeria's youth. In addition to these university proposals, a significant request from Lagos State stands out, seeking the establishment of three new Federal Medical Centers. This request, if approved, would significantly augment the state's existing medical education and healthcare infrastructure, reflecting a broader national trend towards expanding and specializing Nigeria's educational offerings. The House's active engagement in these educational bills underlines a clear recognition of the importance of education in national development and the need to continually adapt and expand the country's educational infrastructure to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

It is worth nothing that the ambitious initiative to establish new universities in Nigeria, while commendable in its goal to expand educational opportunities, seems to be misaligned with the stark fiscal realities confronting the nation's higher education system. The current network of 52 federal universities is already mired in significant challenges, ranging from the widespread deterioration of physical infrastructure to the inadequacy of research facilities. These universities are further hampered by ongoing financial difficulties in compensating their academic staff adequately, a situation that has led to recurrent discontent and disruptions in the academic calendar. This critical state of affairs has been consistently highlighted by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), under the leadership of Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke. Prof. Osodeke has been particularly vocal about the detrimental consequences of inaugurating new universities without a robust and sustainable funding strategy. His concerns were prominently articulated during his speech at the 14th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture in Benin, where he underscored the absence of a coherent funding template as a pivotal issue contributing to the erosion of the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria. This perspective sheds light on a fundamental paradox in the country's education policy: the eagerness to expand the number of universities without addressing the critical needs and challenges of the existing ones, thereby risking a further decline in the overall standard of higher education in the nation.

Stanley Ogoun, serving as the Port Harcourt Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has been a fervent proponent of an urgent and necessary overhaul of the National Universities’ Commission Act. His advocacy is rooted in a deep concern over the trend of establishing new universities in Nigeria, which he perceives as being driven more by political motivations rather than educational necessities. Ogoun's call for legislative amendment is aimed at instilling a more stringent framework that ensures any new university establishment is not just a superficial political gesture but is backed by substantial and sustainable financial support. This perspective is particularly significant in light of the ongoing challenges faced by existing universities, which are already beleaguered by funding shortages and infrastructural deficiencies. By advocating for this amendment, Ogoun is essentially highlighting a critical imbalance in the country's higher education sector: the rapid pace of creating new universities could potentially overshadow and exacerbate the existing deficiencies in the current university system. His stance is a reflection of a broader concern shared by many in the academic community, emphasizing the need for a more balanced and thoughtful approach to expanding Nigeria's higher education infrastructure, one that prioritizes the strengthening and adequate resourcing of existing institutions while cautiously considering the establishment of new ones.

Fund, Fix, Flourish

The central message is clear: the Nigeria’s federal government's focus should pivot from the expansion to the consolidation and enhancement of existing universities. While the intent to broaden educational infrastructure is commendable, it is impractical and counterproductive when the existing institutions are reeling under numerous challenges. These include inadequate funding, deteriorating infrastructure, and insufficient resources, all of which compromise the quality of education and research. The current legislative push towards establishing new universities, if continued unchecked, is likely to worsen these issues, diverting crucial resources and attention away from the pressing needs of the current university system. Thus, the priority must be to first address and rectify these foundational problems.

In light of this, the Nigerian government's role should not be to further crowd the already strained higher education landscape with new universities. Instead, the focus should be on the comprehensive rehabilitation of the existing institutions. By directing resources and efforts towards improving the physical infrastructure, ensuring adequate funding, and enhancing the quality of academic and research facilities, the government can significantly uplift the standard of tertiary education. This approach will not only benefit the current student and academic population but will also lay a stronger foundation for any future expansion. Therefore, the need of the hour is to recalibrate the educational policy to align with the real and urgent needs of Nigeria’s existing higher education institutions, ensuring a more sustainable and effective development of the sector.