By Aliu Akeem
The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to increase the varsity allocation in the 2025 Appropriation Act, to combat the growing challenges confronting the education sector in Nigeria. The lawmakers reiterated their concern over the growing rate of brain drain among staff of universities, occasioned by their very poor remuneration and decaying conditions of work.
The motion, which was moved by Senator Anthony Okorie, showed concern about the continued exodus of highly skilled academics staffs from Nigerian Universities seeking greener pastures abroad. He further explained that brain drain is gradually draining the academic workforce of Nigeria and increasing the skill gap within strategic sectors.
Brain Drain Among Lecturers
It has always been an issue of brain drain, especially in academic circles. A huge chunk of experienced lecturers has been lost by the universities of Nigeria when they get better opportunities to work elsewhere abroad. The motion introduced by Senator Okorie made it clear that it was high time something was done or else Nigeria will continue to lose its grip and edge in education.
Members of the Senate have also instructed its committees on Finance and Education to liaise with the relevant ministries to come up with a holistic plan that addresses these factors responsible for the mass exodus. Better funding, senators’ argue, would grossly improve working conditions, salaries that are competitive, and ultimately slow down the rate of brain drain.
Funding Deficiencies in Nigerian Varsities
One of the core issues that emerged during the debate in the Senate was the underfunding of Nigerian universities. It is recognized by the Senate that most of Nigeria’s institutions of higher learning are severely plagued by a lack of basic infrastructure, new research facilities, and general support mechanisms for students and faculty.
While making the remark in a motion on several reports, Senator Okorie explained that quality education in Nigeria had been facing an unprecedented decline partly due to inadequate budgetary allocation to the education sector of the country. He further argued that there was a need for substantial funding of universities in Nigeria to be able to compete favourably with other such institutions around the world.
In the last ten years, many federal universities were still grappling with obsolete teaching tools and an absence of some of the necessary facilities. Okorie appealed to the Federal Government to make education a priority during the presentation of the 2025 budget, adding that education remains one of the prime pillars of national development.
