The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has said the Federal Government will harmonise tuition in all federal universities to stop arbitrary charge of fees by some university authorities.
Adamu, made this known while fielding questions on the News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said, “Since the protests started, we have summoned the authorities of the universities and sat down with them and we are going to harmonise everything.
“Because, I think it is N45,000 that is the maximum that should be charged. I know in some places, there has been other arrangement.
“But the ministry would harmonise everything and I believe there will be no more protests over fees.”
The Universities of Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt were recently shut down following students’ protests over increase in fees, lack of water and power supply on the campuses.
Adamu said that the Federal Government was discussing with management of the affected universities, adding that efforts were also ongoing to introduce harmonised fees for all federal universities
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is taking steps to restore history as a subject in primary and secondary schools’ curriculum.
Adamu was responding to the criticism trailing the removal of history studies from primary and secondary schools curriculum which became effective from the 2009/2010 academic session.
“Somebody, who doesn’t know his history is even worse than dead. So, this government is going to bring back history.
“ It would even be better if we study local history first. You have to know who you are before you can be anything in this world.
“I believe this government is going to return history back to the curriculum.’’
On the issue of the Federal Government running secondary schools, the minister explained why it could not withdraw from managing unity schools.
According to him, they serve as veritable foundation for the promotion of national unity.
“At the moment, the Federal Government is only running unity schools. There should be nothing wrong with that, especially, since you know the services they are providing.
“Somebody from Badagry would come and be in the same class with somebody in Baga; somebody in Bayelsa with somebody in Gwadaguwa in Sokoto.
“So, at least a nation is being built up at school level.
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The Minister pledged the determination of the Federal Government to return Nigerian universities to the path of attaining excellent global ratings in all fields of academic endeavours.
