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Jega blasts universities producing bread, ‘pure water’
Former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has criticized universities for engaging in bread and sachet water production to generate funds.
Jega, who is the Pro-Chancellor, Plateau State University, Bokkos, spoke at the opening of the three-day 2016 Nigerian Higher Education Summit on Monday in Abuja.
Acknowledging that the crisis of funding in Nigerian universities is acute, Jega insisted that the primary responsibility of funding universities is that of government.
He said, “Putting universities in such a dire situation where they have to be doing things like producing and selling sachet water is sad; frankly, it is not the business of universities.
“We want young unemployed youths to be involved in such entrepreneurial activities to generate income for themselves and to build businesses.
“For a university to become in dire and desperate need for money as to bake bread and produce sachet water is unwholesome and needs to be discouraged.
“Government needs to provide sufficient funding to universities.”
He said universities were in the business of knowledge production and should strive to produce patents or prototypes which they could engage Nigerian industries to manufacture.
Jega added that it is unhealthy for universities to be struggling to generate funds to carry out their mandates.
On ASUU strike, the former INEC boss called for mutual respect between the Federal Government and the unions.
“It is important for government to bend over backwards and it is important for unions to be realistic in their demands in order to find solutions,” he said.
Atiku’s political career built on deceit, he nearly overthrew Obasanjo – Yusuf Ali
A chieftain of the APC in Kaduna State, Yusuf Ali (Rabagardama), has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a betrayer who would always betray his benefactors in order to achieve his personal ambition.
Yusuf Ali further blamed the Turakin Adamawa for “spreading falsehood” against the Kaduna state governor, insisting that El-Rufai was a better politician than he is.
In a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, Ali, a former presidential candidate insisted that Atiku is the architect of his own misfortune, having repeatedly betraying his benefactors like Senator Jibril Aminu and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“On the contrary, Atiku’s politics is built on deceit and betrayal. Whenever he is entrusted with responsibility, he betrays his benefactor and that has been his political philosophy.
“How much was Atiku worth before he became VP and what is his worth after office. The difference is clear. He is a politician who came to service himself and not serve the people.
“Jibril Aminu entrusted him to mobilize support for the professor in his campaign to become vice-president to Obasanjo but what happened? Atiku ended up campaigning for himself to become VP and the rest is history”.
He added that Atiku’s politics has been tainted with questionable wealth and that in an era where transparency and accountability are the hallmark, “Atiku cannot stand any chance in his quest to lead the country”.
Recall that Nasir El Rufai in a recent statement dared the Turakin Adamawa to tell the world why he is avoiding the United States of America.
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