Lagos -The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), on Friday, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to transfer the 104 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) in the country to state governments.
A statement signed by the ASCSN President, Mr Bobboi Bala-Kaigama and its Secretary-General, Mr Alade Lawal respectively in Lagos said “the Association is worried that some Nigerians are clamouring for such transfer.
“Some Nigerians, under the guise of discussing the issue of devolution of power in the country are clamouring for the transfer of unity colleges to state governments.
“What has devolution of power got to do with ownership of unity colleges when education is in the Concurrent List of the constitution?. The President should reject such a move.’’
The Association also stated that handing over the schools was not the right thing as state governments had yet to pay salaries to their workers and many primary and secondary schools were in shambles.
“The first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Tawafa Balewa, in 1966, established the first three unity schools in Sokoto, Warri and Okposi as centres for nurturing national unity.
“Since then, the schools now numbering 104, have remained centres for fostering national unity as students, teachers and other workers from different tribes mix freely to imbibe the different rich cultures in the country.’’
The Association, therefore, urged the President to critically look into the issue when it was eventually brought up and
also urged him to appoint only those with credible character into political positions. (NAN)