The Senate has expressed concern over what it acknowledges as the “increasing cases of brain drain” in Nigeria’s tertiary education, particularly in public universities.
On Tuesday, while raising the alarm, it called on the Federal Government to develop strategies to address the issue.
These concerns arise amid a fresh strike threat by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) due to poor welfare packages and other challenges affecting the smooth functioning of universities.
Recent alarming statistics show that more than 50 percent of academic staff in public universities have left the system, with the numbers expected to rise further.
Senator Anthony Ani-Okorie (APC, Ebonyi-South) brought a motion to the Senate floor on Tuesday to highlight the issue, calling for government measures to tackle it.
Following a debate, the Senate specifically directed the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; the Minister of Education, Hon. Tahir Mamman; and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to establish the modalities for curbing brain drain.
However, several senators also expressed the view that brain drain is a symptom of the poor state of Nigeria’s economy and the lack of opportunities for Nigerians to utilize their talents domestically.
They noted that it may be impossible to legislate measures that would stop the trend or force people to remain in the country against their will.
Nevertheless, Ani-Okorie, a professor of agriculture and former university lecturer, warned that the migration of skilled manpower from Nigeria’s university system has created significant gaps that must be addressed through deliberate action.
The Senate, in passing its resolution on the matter, called for increased budgetary allocation to tertiary education in the 2025 budget to settle outstanding agreements between the government and academic staff unions.
Ani-Okorie’s motion partly reads, “The Senate notes that over the years, there has been a significant outflow of highly educated professionals in Nigeria, particularly in academia, in search of better working conditions, which has worsened the skills gap in the workforce, hindering economic growth and development.
“Further notes the National Universities Commission (NUC) report that many Nigerian universities operate with less than 50 percent of the required academic staff.
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“Aware that the salaries of Nigerian university lecturers are among the lowest in the world, as they were last reviewed over 15 years ago, and cannot meet the current economic realities of the country.
“Also aware that many universities in other West African countries offer better working conditions than those available in Nigeria, which is particularly concerning.
“Worried that the continuous loss of experienced faculty members from our ivory towers to other countries is negatively impacting the quality of education, reducing the effectiveness of teaching, learning, and mentorship for students in our higher institutions.
“Also worried that brain drain has reached an unprecedented level in recent times due to the current economic situation. This is a cause for concern as it threatens the survival of higher education in Nigeria, particularly in critical fields like engineering, medicine, and sciences, which are essential for the country’s socio-economic development.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Senate moved to strengthen the powers of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in performing its core duty as the regulator of the country’s capital market by passing the “Investments and Securities Bill 2024” for second reading.
This followed the presentation of the lead debate on the general principles of the bill by Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo) during plenary.
The bill, which seeks to repeal the Investment and Securities Act, 2007, and enact the Investment and Securities Bill, 2024, was sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and co-sponsored by Senator Osita Izunaso.
Izunaso, while leading the debate, said the bill aims to regulate the capital market “to ensure capital formation, protect investors, maintain a fair, efficient, and transparent market, and reduce systemic risks.”
Izunaso further explained that the main objective of the bill is to enact legislation that aligns with global dynamics in capital market regulation through the provision of innovative regulatory frameworks.
Senator Isa Jibrin (APC, Kogi) and Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos) supported the bill.
Jibrin said, “We have been facing challenges in defining the exact duties that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should carry out to ensure that the Nigerian capital market functions effectively.
“This amendment is crucial to ensure that the SEC operates in line with global best practices.”
Abiru added that the bill would not only improve discipline and efficiency in the capital market, but it would also enhance the capacity of the regulator.
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