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Stop misinforming Nigerians, ASUU tells minister, NITDA

By Collins Olayinka, Terhemba Daka and Kanayo Umeh, Abuja
14 March 2022   |   4:03 am
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied claims by the Federal Government that the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) failed three integrity tests.

Isa Ali Pantami

• Insists UTAS test still ongoing
• Nigeria will engage others to achieve quality education, says Buhari

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied claims by the Federal Government that the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) failed three integrity tests.

The union also accused Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of misinforming Nigerians on the true position of the tests.

This came as President Muhammadu Buhari pledged the commitment of Nigeria to engage with other partners to achieve quality educational standards that prepare the next generation to meet challenges of the 21st century.

He made the pledge as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) celebrated its 70th anniversary, which also coincides with the 70th yearly council meeting being hosted in Abuja from today till March 18.

“The President believes that just as member-nations have survived a difficult year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and in some countries, previous years of internal conflict, this cherished education institution would continue to thrive as a world-class examination body,” said a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

In a statement, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said: “Let us put it on record that an integrity test was carried out by NITDA on August 10, 2021 at National Universities Commission (NUC) where relevant government agencies and all the end-users in the university system were present.

“At the end of the exercise, all, without exception, expressed satisfaction with UTAS as a suitable solution for salary payment in our universities. This was attested to by the report coming from NITDA to the effect that UTAS scored 85 per cent in UAT.

“However, in a curious twist of submission, the NITDA Technical Team, after conducting a comprehensive functionality test, came out to say that out of 687 test cases, 529 cases were satisfactory, 156 cases queried, and two cases were cautioned. Taking this report on its face value, the percentage score is 77 per cent.

“The question that arises from this is can 77 per cent in any known fair evaluation system be categorised as failure? Suffice it to say here that some observations and questions were raised by NITDA to which UTAS technical team had to provide clarification.

“The Director General of NITDA should stop making comments that are capable of jeopardising the joint ongoing testing of UTAS between the NITDA Technical Team and its counterpart in our union. However, if this behaviour continues, we will have no choice but to demand that the NITDA Technical Report on UTAS and our union’s response be made public in order to shed more light on the ongoing controversies without further waste of time.”

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