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Private varsities unrelenting in quest for TETFund Act review, says Bernard Aigbokhan

By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City
10 November 2016   |   2:21 am
Vice Chancellor, Samuel Adegboyega University (SAU), Ogwa, Edo State, Prof. Bernard Eronmonsele Aigbokhan, stated this on at a press briefing, which formed part of activities marking the second convocation of the university.
TETfund

TETfund

Private Universities across the country, Nigeria have continued to mount pressure on the Federal Government to review the necessary sections of the act establishing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to enable them benefit from it, as they continue to endure the pangs inadequate funding.

Vice Chancellor, Samuel Adegboyega University (SAU), Ogwa, Edo State, Prof. Bernard Eronmonsele Aigbokhan, stated this on at a press briefing, which formed part of activities marking the second convocation of the university.

He said the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Private Universities, and the Committee of Pro-Chancellor of Private Universities, have been mounting pressure on the National Assembly to review the act.

“Like most private universities, funding is a major constraint, especially being a non-profit, faith-based university, the church which is the proprietor highly subsidises salaries of staff and the balance has to be covered from school fees. Yet public universities have massive financial support from TETFund for physical capital development

“The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Private Universities has prepared memos and submitted positions papers to the National Assembly because even though the NUC was inclined to want to support the appeal on private universities, they often hit a block, which they claim is a legal issue, that is the fact that the act that set up TETFUND said only public institutions will benefit. So until it is so modified to reflect all universities, they cannot extend it. And as it is natural, one will not be too surprised that there is resistance from the public universities because they feel that the thin purse available to them will now be further reduced.

He continued, “But it is not just the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Private Universities, the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of private universities are also in the vanguard trying to see if they can get the National Assembly to review the act so that private universities can also enjoy it.”

Aigbokhan who is also the President of Nigerian Economic Society (NES), disclosed that a total of 68 students would graduate, three of which finished in the First Class Division; 30 in Second Class (Upper Division); 29 in Second Class (Lower Division) while four are going away with third class degrees.

He said the university is committed to equipping students with the knowledge of Information Communications Technology (ICT), which is the way to go now, and as such, a total of 109 students have acquired certificates, in three areas related to ICT.

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