NAAT laments poor rating of Nigerian universities

National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has lamented the poor rating of Nigerian universities in the recent global rating, saying that no Nigerian university is ranked among the first 500 universities in the world.

This, according to the union might not be unconnected with the poor funding of education in the annual budgetary allocation over the years.

NAAT made this position known after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which was presided over by its President, Comrade Sani Suleiman, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the General Secretary, Comrade Hamilton Iyoyo, said: “The Union noted with serious concern, the fact that no Nigerian         university is ranked among the first 500 in the world. This is not     unconnected with the low budgetary allocation given to education         yearly, which has consistently fallen below the UNESCO benchmark of 26 per cent.

“NAAT therefore urges FGN and the state governments to prioritise education in budgetary provision and implementation, to ensure overall development of the country.     This is in line with the National Policy on Education which posits that ‘no nation can rise above the level of education of its            people.’”

On the issue of roads, insecurity and Federal Government’s  failure to honour agreements, the communique read: “NAAT is concerned about the state of Nigerian roads and rail          network. The union urges Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, commence work on the dilapidated rail system in order to take pressure off the roads.

“At the same time, government should take more pragmatic steps to fix the roads and the adjoining drainages.

“NAAT expresses dismay over the spate of criminality across the country in various forms, such as kidnapping, cultism, armed          robbery and insurgency. The union therefore urges government at all levels to intensify efforts geared towards creating a safe                society for the citizenry.

“It is worrisome to note that in recent times, labour unions from         different spheres of calling have embarked upon strike actions     over one issue  which is, that government does not honour agreements it freely entered into with the unions.

“NAAT therefore urges government to honour and implement agreements with            unions, to forestall unquantifiable losses in man-hours, negative impact on the economy, and other losses occasioned by incessant strike actions.”