By Chibuike Nwabuko, Abuja
The Federal Government has revealed that it is seriously considering the idea of removing the education sector from the states’ control by taking it from the Concurrent Legislative List to the Exclusive List.
This development is coming, despite recent calls by many Nigerians to devolve power from the federal to the states.
But the Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwuka, insists that education is a federal project.
The aim, according to Anwuka, is to provide focus and centralised administration of the education sector in the country.
Anwuka, who dropped the hint in Abuja, admitted that there are lots of problems facing the education sector in Nigeria.
He further noted that some of the problems could easily be solved, if the affairs of the education sector is centrally run.
He argued that education, just like military, is critical to the nation, and must not be left at the whims and caprices of the state governments.
“We have a lot of problems facing education sector in this country. Over the last two weeks, I have been pondering on a particular idea, whether as a country, we can continue putting education on the Concurrent List.
“It is coming to a stage, where we have to brace up to the fact that education is a federal project, and can no longer be left at the whims and caprices of the states. Like Army and others that are federal projects, this country will brace up to the fact that education must be centrally run by the Federal Government and no longer run by the various states.
“I’m going to discuss this idea further with stakeholders. Education must cease to be on the Concurrent List and be a concern to the people,” he said during a send-forth reception organised in honour of the immediate past Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Julius Okojie.
He described Okojie as his very good friend but often times had to disagree in order to agree on certain issues pertaining to the areas of his jurisdiction.
“Julius is a very unique person. He is good man, somebody who appreciates the goodness of superior argument. When you convince him he is very ready to agree with you. We wish him well. He may think that he has left a very hot seat but when the serious need comes, we will always insist that he is drafted into the hot seat. We are still together,” he said.
Okojie, who advised his successor, Abubakar Adamu Rasheed; to be courageous, said the task of the Executive Secretary of NUC is a difficult one in view of the happenings in the tertiary education sector in Nigeria.
He noted that he enjoyed working at the NUC because of the good support he received from the staff of the Commission saying he administered the Commission with the fear of God and neighbour.
The occasion was a gathering of friends, colleagues, associates and well-wishers to eulogise Okojie for his 10 years of meritorious service as NUC Executive Secretary, following his retirement on August 1, 2016, after completing his two terms in office.
The event was attended by many dignitaries, including the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, and his wife; former Minister of Health, A. B. C. Nwosu; former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Ali, who was also the immediate past Chairman, Governing Board of NUC, among others.
