The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has advised the federal government to consult widely with relevant stakeholders on the recent policy by the Federal Ministry of Education to peg the minimum age requirement for enrollment for senior secondary school examination at 18 years to avert crisis in the sector.
The union said this in a communique issued at the end of its 49th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, held in Abuja at the weekend and signed by SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim.
Minister of Education, Prof Tahir who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, had said that individuals under 18 years would no longer be allowed to take part in National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.
According to Mamman, the Federal Government has directed WAEC and NECO to enforce the 18-year age requirements for candidates seeking to take their exams.
But the association said the policy would drag the education sector backward.
“NEC in session lends her voice to critical stakeholders in the education sector in condemning the decision of the Federal Government to peg the age at which students can write the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and gain admission into tertiary institutions at 18.
“Generality of stakeholders believe that this policy would drag the education sector back. While reacting to the comment by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman Tahir, that from 2025 any candidate who is not up to 18 years old would not be allowed to write SSCE and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB), urged the government to consult widely as it has promised on this critical matter to avert the crisis in the sector,” the communique said.
The union also frowned at the delay in the payment of four months withheld salaries which President Bola Tinubu had directed to be paid to its members two months ago.
The union also appealed to the Federal Government to extend the distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to universities to aid the transportation of staff and students.
The association called on the government to pay its members the earned allowances, noting that N50 billion was earmarked for the same purpose in the 2023 budget.
While calling for payment of the four months withheld salaries, the union said: “The Union is aware of the Presidential directive for release of the 4 months withheld salaries of members of SSANU and NASU. We are however baffled that almost two months later, our members are yet to be paid. NEC therefore calls on the relevant Government agencies to implement the directive of the President by paying our members their 4 months withheld salaries.”
-Thenation
