The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has expressed concern over the exit of teaching and non-teaching staff members from the nation’s university system.
The committee’s chairman, Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), raised the concern in a statement in Abuja on Thursday after the committee’s oversight visit to some universities in the South-East.
According to him, it is dangerous to have lecturers exit the system through retirement or death without any effort to fill the resulting gap.
He stated that the authorities of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, confirmed that no fewer than 3,000 teaching and non-teaching staff members had left service since 2019.
The lawmaker said they left either by retirement, death, or resignation, adding that they were yet to be replaced.
“The 10th House of Representatives is determined to improve the standard of education in the country, hence the oversight visit to ascertain the true condition of the universities. I think it is not normal to see lecturers and even members of non-academic staff leaving the university system by retirement, death, or whichever way without replacement.
“It is also not healthy for the university system to have about 3000 leaving the system and only have permission to recruit just about 500 people.
“It is my humble appeal to the governing councils of the universities, the Ministry of Education, and other relevant government bodies to ensure our university system is working smoothly by ensuring there are no undue vacancies,” Mr Fulata said.
Mr Fulata urged the management of universities in the country to ensure compliance with federal character principles in the appointment and recruitment of staff.
He said during the tour, the committee observed a low compliance rate, urging both the old and new universities to correct the anomalies.
(NAN)