In my most recent commentary on the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities a few days ago, I deliberately did not take a position. Many of my friends have asked me what is my position on University funding. I am afraid I do not have a ready made answer after considering the various ramifications.
I remember when I was in Secondary School my English language teacher would give us an essay topic and ask us to argue for and against.
May be it’s very good to look at all the three sides of a coin and then take a position.
My take is that we need to decide on the best funding model for the Nigerian public University system taking into consideration elements of access (and equity), cost and quality.
A situation where University lecturers are grossly underpaid is not sustainable. It has been said repeatedly that the take home pay of a Professor at bar (after 10 years of unbroken service as a full Professor) is less than $1,000 at the official exchange rate. You cannot get the best from them in the circumstance, talk less of attracting International faculty.
No one would like to leave a more secure environment only to come here and start to live below the poverty line. Every sane person likes to afford the basic necessities of life plus some luxury. What is the essence of life if after acquiring all the degrees in this world you can neither feed nor accommodate your family.
As the late Professor Adegoke Olubunmo asked in his classic 1984 Valedictory Lecture at the University of Ibadan: “What does it all add up to?” Olubunmo was the first Nigerian Professor of Mathematics.
Government, on the other hand, as proprietor, has said repeatedly that it alone cannot fund the Universities properly although it still goes ahead to establish many more at the slightest provocation.
Many parents except the super rich and upper middle class may not be able to afford high tuition fees. And a situation in which brilliant but indigent individuals cannot access University education is inequitable and unacceptable in any egalitarian society. There is a heavy likelihood of default in the event that a students’ loan scheme is instituted.
So I am personally confused as to the most equitable funding algorithm to adopt in the peculiar situation we find ourselves.
The debate continues.
. Professor Olayinka was a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.