What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

However, over time, the education sector, particularly tertiary institutions, has been severely underfunded. In response to this ongoing neglect, workers in the sector have issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government, threatening to embark on an indefinite strike.

The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with our correspondent expressed deep concern over the state of education in Nigeria, describing it as being in “complete ruin.” He further remarked that, given the current state of the sector, there was little to celebrate on this Independence Day.

He said, “Nigeria remains at a dismal ranking of 64, which reflects the dire state of education in the country. It is evident to everyone that our education system is in ruins. Whether it’s in terms of infrastructure or providing a conducive learning environment, everything has deteriorated.

“In the 1960s and 1970s, Nigeria had a universal education system that attracted lecturers from all over the world. Today, the situation is drastically different. We now admit students who did not even meet the minimum standards in exams like JAMB, with some scoring as low as 35. There is truly nothing to celebrate in the current state of our education system.”

Also, the national president, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim added, “We are seeing an increase in the number of universities and polytechnics being established, but is this growth matched by the quality of teaching, learning, and infrastructure? Do we have the required number of qualified staff to manage these institutions? We may boast of having many institutions, but the government is falling short in funding tertiary education and public schools.

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