The Federal Government has reversed its policy to automatically deduct 40 per cent of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of public universities in the country. The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced this on Friday, November 17, at the 75th Founder’s Day ceremony of the University of Ibadan (UI).
Mamman said that the policy was cancelled because it was not suitable for the current situation of the universities, which are facing financial challenges. He said, “The 40 percent IGR automatic deduction policy stands cancelled. This is not the best time for such a policy since our universities are struggling.”
The decision, which was introduced by the Ministry of Finance in October, had sparked outrage from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which described it as a move to impoverish the university system. The ASUU president, Emmanuel Osodeke, had issued a communiqué on Tuesday, November 13, condemning the policy and calling for its immediate withdrawal.
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According to the communiqué, the policy would have adverse effects on the quality of education, research, and infrastructure in the universities. The union also accused the government of violating the autonomy of the universities and the agreements reached with ASUU on funding and revitalization of the university system.
The cancellation of the policy is seen as a victory for ASUU, which has been at loggerheads with the government over various issues affecting the welfare of its members and the development of the education sector. The union had recently suspended a nine-month strike after reaching an agreement with the government on the payment of salaries, allowances, and earned academic allowances. The union had also demanded the implementation of the 2009 and 2013 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government, which include the provision of adequate funding and infrastructure for the universities.