The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has disclosed that the planned deduction of 40% from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of federal varsities earlier implemented by the Federal Government has been suspended.
The Minister who was representing the Visitor of the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, made the disclosure at the 75th Anniversary and 2023 Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, which held at the International Conference Centre of the State Capital.
He said the Ministry of Finance has been directed to ensure that the policy should not come into effect because even though the law was enacted in 2020 and the circular was issued in 2021, it was not a good time for such a policy to be implemented.
The President reiterated the commitment of his administration to the education sector in line with the 2030 education agenda of the government and African Union goal 2063, adding that the Federal Government would focus on bringing in more innovation to reform the entire education sector for curriculum review at all levels from primary to basic education with the reintroduction of skills to attend to out-of-school menace.
He acknowledged that industrial disputes overtime have affected the smooth running of universities in the past, reiterating that the government was determined to ensure that the institutions do not face such challenges anymore.
He said, “Councils for the universities have been constituted as part of the government’s efforts to bring innovation and revive the education sector, including curriculum reviews across all levels from primary to tertiary education”.
He noted that the introduction of students’ loans was to ensure that no student drops out of school due to poverty and expressed optimism that the motive for the policy will yield the positive results expected.
The Chancellor of the university and Emir of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, in his speech, congratulated the institution on its notable achievements in the last 75 years.
He said the celebration also called for reflections on the impact of the university on the communities, noting that knowledge from the university must benefit the communities and Nigeria through quality research.
He lamented that public service has degenerated compared to what obtained 50 years ago, stressing that universities must rise up to salvage it through quality graduates.
Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, charged the graduands not to rest on their oars in ensuring they give back to the society whenever the opportunity presented itself.
He also implored them to be great ambassadors of their institution both in character and academics within the country and outside its shores.
According to him, a total of 6,865 graduands received first degrees in various disciplines across 17 faculties; 2,842 received Academic Masters Degree, 131 Postgraduate Diplomas and 25 Master of Philosophy. Also, a total of 722 graduands from various disciplines were awarded Doctor of Philosophy degrees while Prof. Mayowa Owolabi was awarded Doctor of Science, a higher doctorate degree.
The convocation was attended by many dignitaries, stakeholders of the university, graduands and their parents / guardians, staff and students of the institution, invited guests and well as well wishers.