The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, has condemned the closure of all universities in Nigeria by the Federal Government over the general elections.
Babalola stated this on Monday in Ado-Ekiti at the 5th Induction of 123 medical doctors, who just graduated from ABUAD.
According to him, the directive by the federal government was not only illegal but also needless and inappropriate.
He noted that the education Minister had no statutory power to direct the NUC to close down the nation’s universities, especially without consultations with stakeholders.
Babalola said the forceful closure of Nigeria’s universities by the Minister and the NUC, had done incalculable damage to students of Nigerian universities.
“Under the NUC Act of 1974 and the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985, the Minister has no statutory power to issue a directive to NUC to close down universities. I refer in particular to section 4(2) of the 1974 (NUC) Act”.
“The problems have been worsened by the scarcity of money by banks and automated teller machines, ATM, all of which ordinarily make transportation back home, more dangerous than ever before.
“If you want to destroy a nation, you don’t need bayonets, bombs, or nuclear warheads. All you need is to destroy the education of the nation.
“The illegal closure has adversely affected the curriculum, particularly in respect of private universities which are reputed for their predictable academic calendar and absence of strike actions,” Babalola said.
According to him, Nigeria has a criminal code, while other legislations have provisions that the government and law enforcement agents can evoke to deal with any person, whatever his class, as against, deliberately putting the security of staff, students, and properties of respective institutions in jeopardy.
The Registrar of, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, Dr. T.A.B. Sanusi, earlier inducted the 123 medical doctors of the institution into the medical profession.
The induction ceremony is for the 2022 graduating set and the 5th Induction ceremony of the MBBS program of the institution.
