The minister of education, Prof Tahir Mamman, announced that the federal government is in the process of allocating funds for the revitalization of universities.
The release of funds for the rehabilitation of facilities in public universities was one of the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The minister also said the government has taken steps to power the universities through gas-powered facilities using the public-private partnership (PPP) window provided by the government.
He said 18 universities have been shortlisted for the first phase of the project.
The minister stated this on Monday during an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) in Abuja.
The minister said the recently approved payment of a salary increase of 35 percent to academics and 25 percent to non-academics was a further commitment to the welfare of the staff of public universities.
He said: “The scheme is intended to start with 18 universities in the first instance and the shortlisted universities will be contacted at the appropriate stage of the project. The centrality of the power to service delivery, research, and cost savings cannot be over-emphasized.”
He noted that due to the recognition of the centrality of the education sector, a committee was set up to provide a roadmap to guide policy, provide implementation plans, deliverables, key performance indicators (KPIs), and a timeline was put in place and that the report of the committee would be submitted this month.
While noting that arrangements have been concluded for a meeting with heads of key security outfits and the Ministers of Education to review and enhance the security cover in schools, the minister said the role of government was to continue to support the public sector universities with appropriate resources while encouraging the proper development of the private universities that are now in the greater numbers.
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