Sonny Iroche advocates decentralization of admission into Nigerian public tertiary institutions

Former Executive Director of Finance and Accounts of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sonny Iroche has appealed to the federal government to consider decentralizing admissions into Federal Colleges, Universities and other tertiary institutions to enable them to set their own examinations and choose your admission. criteria.

Iroche made this known on Sunday, delivering the speech during the 64th Founders Day celebration of the University of Nigeria on the theme: Redefining Falling Standards of Education in Nigeria: Facing the Challenges and Embracing the Future.

In his speech, Iroche said one of the most pressing issues that has bedeviled Nigeria’s educational system over the years is the continued centralization of admissions through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

He noted that although this system was originally intended to streamline the admissions process, it inadvertently created bottlenecks and inequalities.

“The situation is further aggravated by the quota system, which reduces the admission limit for candidates from some states considered educationally disadvantageous, to the detriment of those that were classified as educationally advantageous states, with much higher admission limits.”

He maintained that this has, over the years, denied deserving students places in federal educational institutions and that these students find themselves trapped in a cycle of rejections, while the meritocracy to which we aspire remains illusory.

“We must advocate for a more equitable and transparent admissions process that truly reflects the capabilities of our students, allowing them to thrive in an environment that nurtures their potential,” he said.

Iroche also used the occasion to call on the federal government to improve its budget allocation and address the death of funding that has plagued public universities over the years.

He stated that although successive governments have promised reforms, we are faced with inadequate budgetary provisions that have left institutions struggling to provide basic amenities, let alone invest in innovative research and development.

“Our GDP/education ratio is alarmingly low, reflecting a lack of interest in the future of our nation’s intellectual capital. We must mobilize resources and campaign for greater investment in education – because without funding we cannot fuel the engines of growth and development.”

He noted that the federal government has allocated 7.9% of its total 2024 budget to education, adding that although this was a slight improvement over previous years, it is still clearly inadequate.

“At $23 per capita, public expenditure on education in Nigeria is inadequate by any standard,” he said. “Of the 23 dollars per capita spent on education, states spend 14 dollars, leaving the federal government with only 9 dollars per capita. As a result, educators in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions are some of the lowest paid in the country.”

Gideon Arinze