Education
“Higher Education will be my Top Priority.” – Tinubu
“Higher education will be my top priority.” – Tinubu
I sincerely believe that postsecondary education plays a crucial role in influencing people’s futures and the course of society as a whole, so I will continue to prioritize this important education.
NewsReport gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed that his administration will continue to prioritize tertiary education, with a focus on producing highly qualified graduates capable of competing globally.
The President restated the government’s pledge to assist educational establishments in order to enhance their competitiveness in the global economy and technology.
According to DAILY POST, Tinubu spoke during the commissioning of projects at Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP) and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi State, both of which are part of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFund) 2021–2022 merged intervention programs. The projects are valued at over N873.666 million.
Represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Tinubu highlighted educational development as a key priority of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
He listed several initiatives introduced by his administration, including the student loan program, discussions with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for student welfare, and the approval of a waiver for the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy for Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members.
The President also noted that he endorsed an upward review of the Education Tax (EDT) to 3 percent, effective September 2023, to enhance funding for the education sector.
He said, “We have introduced the students’ loan initiative to ease access to tertiary education for indigent students, meeting personally with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to discuss the welfare of Nigerian students and recently approving waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ order on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which would pave the way for members of the union to receive part of their withheld salaries.
“These are part of conscious efforts being made by this administration to address students’ challenges and create industrial harmony between staff unions and the government.
“As we all know, education plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of nations. Therefore, the commissioning of these projects today at the university would, in no small measure, further enhance teaching and learning and improve academic standards.
“I wish to reiterate that education forms an integral part of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope agenda; hence, the Federal Government would continue to provide necessary support towards making our educational institutions globally competitive for the economic and technological development of the country.”