By Taiwo Adeyemi

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has berated the Federal Government for failing to provide skill acquisition centers for students ahead of the proposed 18-years limit for West Africa Examination Council, WAEC and National Examination Council, NECO examinations. 

Dr Alex Akanmu, University of Ilorin ASUU’s Chairman made the remarks when he featured as a guest on Diamond FM, Ilorin, Kwara State Yoruba Language News and Current Affairs programme “E ba wa da si” on Thursday, 29th August, 2024.

Recalled that the Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir whiie featuring on a television programme  recently emphasised that the age limit for candidates taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is 18.

The minister clarified that this is not a new policy but a reinforcement of existing regulations..

Akanmu maintained that the Federal Government should have provided a stop gap,  skill acquisition centers for some students that the policy will  be affected. 

“We don’t know the reason government was eager to start implementing the programme from next year”. 

“Some students are already waiting to write  WAEC and NECO. The government should have provided a stop gap like  skill acquisition centers for the students to learn a vocation as they clock 18 years before they write the exam”.

He furthered that the university system is very rigorous and immature students will always find it very difficult to survive. 

“Our University system is for those that are rugged, that is the reason most of the students can’t handle the pressure, they succumbed to peer pressure and suicidal thoughts”. 

“There is no magic to help an immature student to survive the system but government should have given time before the policy take-off”. 

“Some parents also rush their children to finish schooling which is affecting the system”. 

On the proposed industrial action by the union, he said the Federal Government  has refused to implement the 2009 agreement with the ASUU.

“Federal Government has refused to pay our members withheld three months salary during the last eight months strike we embarked”.

“Releasing of the white paper visitation panel to the schools and adequate funding of the Universities because some schools don’t have laboratories, no ICT centers, etc.